Seldom Surrenders

 we chased each other around the knotted corners. all twigs and pebbles as the fire fumbled to keep us warm. 

predators in failing time machines. touch our only weapon. 

the words bit down hard. angry rodents in the musty corridors of our choices. 

we spent our nickels on cunning imposters. and dubious confessions. 

time only comes in narrow triangles and perfect lies. everything else is panic. 

we shuffle the numbers. con men selling empty boxes. 

if we don't look inside them. then there's nothing missing.