The devil also suffers his cross
He hangs in piteous sight.
You and I have slashed his side
When he stepped into our fight.
I feel no need to forgive you
And I know more than you of your wrongs.
Your calypso steps are not your own
You’re just dancing for the throngs.

There’s an ax upon the alter
And a necklace on the ground,
Candles and panorama
As I look around.
I’ve come to rid myself
Of bitterness and spite,
Of demons and gremlins
That whisper in the night.
So I’ll smoke your image with incense
And bind it three times three,
And maybe I’ll forgive you
For nailing me to this tree.

Kate With One Dimple dances
In her Dad’s shirt and hat
But no shoes.
She pours more wine and knows every line
Of songs she says I should use

To know her better.

Lucinda wants joy, so the song goes
And Dorothy’s lost her way.
Sheryl drops acid while Lyle eases pain,
Poor Joan, she’s just falling from grace.
So I listen real hard, stretched out on the floor
And read along to the tears,
Though I don’t really need to, since she lays on my back
And sings each word in my ear.

You went to the doctor
Though the midwife helped more,
Then you found the temple
And kicked in the door.
Now the fields are black
And the sky is green
And your view is blocked
By the flies on the screen.
They buzz in your head
While they die in midair,
And your knuckles are white
As you grip your chair.
You pray for silence
Though you long for the crowd,
Surrounding yourself
With the meek and the proud.
You life is a drama
Of loving and rage,
And you claw at the curtains
Or you’ll fall from the stage.

I thought the new girl was you when I first came in
But she just has similar hair.
We drank and talked as I watched the door
Hoping to see you there.
She couldn’t stay late so she left at close
While the rest of us lingered on.
You never came in so I finally gave in
And relinquished my hope at dawn.

I could have reached you all that night
But I have this shallow pride.
This you know, for you’ve told me so,
It hides my weaker side.
I missed your laugh, your hands and hair.
Your face and words, your fragile heart.
The shiny glare of your dark brown stare.
All lost in this time apart.