dark carnival of night lures me
its woman lay spread with stained fingers
her smile wide but vacant
her thoughts far away
from the words that escape her tainted lips
they are free to roam happy places
while her body becomes a temple
to sublime brackish waters toil
to dark things that never leave

this hour is marked with
drawn shades
but is it so far from the homes i dwelt in before
fear always at the door
incessant knocking pleading to be let in
hope never answering its phone
the endless busy elsewhere signal
the hunger of a heart
that has never even tasted another's wine
that has never known the depth of warm bliss

empty hours
waiting lights off
breath held by the window
peering out the edge
at the empty dark street below
for the call of a voice that would have saved
for a face that would have been
but never was
mine to love

i have been up and down this road
know its every misplaced stone
know its very shadows
and i have begun to perceive there
is no escape
there is no dawn coming
there is no escape