Sidewalk Soldiers

the telepathy of skin. chews the image from the bone. lighter fluid infused cigarettes. coax the predator from the grass. left turns into heavy traffic.

the hours idly consent. to letting us wait. to allowing our surrender.

vacant terminals receive and transmit. the anatomy of touch. ragged maps possessed with destinations. nameless roads lead us.

time's gloating machine. gnaws and pokes. as addicts beg and leaders wither. just a taste. a temporary desert. constantly growing.

the missing moon. the gloating stars. the stumbling Earth. all characters in a desperate fable.

obvious villains.