trickling slowly
as if a light rain were falling down
hand railing
time seems to stop and start
in fits and thrusts
pausing long enough to send shivers
and give the witnesses enough
fear
to feel assured in proclaiming
the apocalypse was upon us all –
I drew dry whiskey slowly
and swished it twice
along my upper gum line
and back along my cheeks
exhaling fire
and nodded……..
     I too was sure
            we were all to die –
a breeze passed
    that could have been a
butterfly in Indochina
or the spirit of a long dead
      moonshine runner
coyote calling in the darkness
     listening for an answer
                  of an all-clear

the night held us all
     near breathless
barely visible on the horizon
            a faint orange glow
                           where no town resided –