my shadow darkens as i eat the memories of Tampa Bay conventioneers

pure reason is bloodless

give me

that walking hemorrhage

there--kissing,

centering her face with both hands, 

easy, man, easy.

delicate

on cheeks

this is classic 
antique store public display

draped with plastic berries

but super-authentic hay

she might be an angular Picasso

in the flattering promenade light

tooth and clout of a mountain face

weapon of choice

an ebony knife

  

reality is that I constructed

grief in her eyes

while crafting 

next year's Christmas message:

deceased spider monkeys

distended by heat,

burst forth

pink grey miniature

viscera, doubling

the sunset palette

intestines, in cursive crumb-

caked with mud

spell out two little Instagram wishes:

For happiness now

For a world without end.

can't never not be my lover

no guitar solos please 
slap my jaw 

with bass and tambourine

deal medicine in sing-song,

with a sneer, man.

in Brogue,

brother,

cause the ocean is cold

Chrysler Building

cold. ribs

are blue under rust

nestled

just so between vice

grip thighs. 1928

in black and white

fire glows orange on rivets

at quitting time

men

fling them

like Sunday ball.

today

you manage to say

I Believe

I Can Fly!

11 times in

21 seconds

it takes

to fall

3000 feet

from the penthouse

suite/Burj Khalifa

Bowie jumped

arms outstretched,

from a tower of stacked speakers.

fell to earth on

his ankle.

his face,

Axl Rose

rearranged for him

much later.

the effect of

causes dated many millennia

before woodcuts of stricken

children littered

Teutonic forests.

before lisa lisa & the cult jam.