.
War. Famine.
Pestilence. Death.
Enjoy a game of poker.
It relieves the boredom.
They only have one Big project
booked into the work diary.
The horses are stabled,
so why not have down time?
The day-to-day business
takes care of itself.
Ably supervised by the humans
in a race to the Big day.

The stillness is penetrated by sound.
Death cleaning his teeth
with his reaping scythe or
Death sharpening his reaping scythe
on his teeth.
Either way, it shattered vertebrae.
His nerves were getting twitchy.
Three Kings, the Jack and Queen of Clubs.
Royals were dropping like flies.
It was going to be a busy night.
He met Wars eyes and her bet,
(****! She looks beautiful sweating),
paid an advance and called.
Uncharacteristically delicate,
he lay down his souls.
Jack and Queen of Clubs.
Kings of Diamonds, Spades and Hearts.

War smiled sweetly.
Her dirk-like eyelashes
fluttering an assassins dance.
Letting her cards fall soft,
triumphant with winners ecstasy,
she declares her hand...




… “SNAP!” she says.




© Pagan Paul (14/03/17)

We arrive at the motel I sat next to the window
Soon he closes the drapes with clothespins in tow

I know what's about to come
I hurry and slam two shots of ***

At a split second I get a fist right on my face
I knew it was coming but I didn't get myself braced

He yells b---h you know what your supposed to be doing
As I **** in the tears I pick myself up off the ground stooping

I opened my bag the last pieces of items I own
I'd wish I'd gone and found a comfort zone

I change into my clothes mini skirt , tight shirt, no bra and high heels
I'm afraid to squeal

While I'm leaving, you know what to do or your family will be black and blue

I stroll down the long road a car rolls up
I get in and guide him to the stump

I go back to the motel
Hand over  the cash, and I get hit, kicked and told to go resale

Realizing that I'm just a minnow
swimming  in a fish tank
With no way out cause  I'm out ranked

You was my eye candy
While I was sipping brandy

Your my babies daddy
You was sweeter than cotton candy

You was my world,my everything
You was so nourishing

You was my abuser
You turned out to be such a loser

I fell head over heels for you
Didn't know I was going to be black and blue

I always thought that you loved me
I fell for your hustle,I guess I just couldn't see

Day after day I took severe beatings
They definitely wasn't bee stings

I was threatened and my family too
I was trapped with no way out if only I had a canoe

I finally got away from you
It only took me seven years to subdue

You are dead now but I bet you've made a deal with the devil
I know your still a rebel

Every day I have to deal with health issues
Caused by the daily beatings that I took with no rescues

They say I'm a survivor within
Looks like you still win

Sometimes I often wonder what life brings
When your heart no longer wants to sing
Some days I think deeply and wonder why
I no longer laugh and all I ever do is cry
Wounds never seem to heal scarred forever
Is this my life for real with no endeavor
I am a pebble on this empty beach
Battered by the waves filled with grief

My crying heart screams out in agony
Sadness what spell have you cast over me
I am a shadow of my former self
Yesterday's happiness sitting on the shelf
I stare off into this night of misery
Will I live again to taste calm seas
Ripples of waves flow to the shore
May I touch love's kiss once more

Thanks Maxine. Maxine is a poet I collaborated with on another site. Maybe she will join here now :-)