i found your
habits tonight,
the ones you kept
tucked up your sleeve
like aces in a hold ‘em match,

unwelcome, unwanted.
tells, twitch, or tell truths
to me, while broken
records and dated playlists
keep me company;
the soundtrack
to this life i can't
seem to find the verve
to live anymore.

this train will go on to see
brighter things, however,
with or without my muffled
murmurs and quieted complaints,
it's not up to me.

mannequin, your sacred self is secret,
you save and squander on
your precious aces;
those hidden cheats, cheap tricks
to while away the time.

there's nothing left for me
at the end of the night when
i stumble in and fall.
nothing at all.