Faded stains of spilled bourbon
dot the weathered nightstand’s surface
like stars speckle a clear midnight sky
Each commemorates a prop of courage
swigged to help forge another day

Bras, slips, heels and flats
pepper the soiled carpet
reflections of the many
nightly transgressions now
impediments which fleck her soul

Her frontal lobe
harbors distortions
from her past
forgiven by those who know her
forgotten by others

Rain pelts her window
rat-tat, rat-tats against the panes
compulsively splatters the door
flings open her mind
to let today’s downpour
splash away
any trace of her anguish

the heart an aircraft
capable of flying
but not of floating

Fear prevented me from getting a key that I wanted for a long time
From what somebody said
I'm living like I was dead
What compelled me to listen to their pointless dread?
I imagine myself in that picture with you
But I know my fear has kept me from my dream
And now I'm just another sorry sad noodle in the soup for the sick
Slap me in the face real quick
I'm daydreaming again

I’ve dubbed my wastebasket the wishing well
Well I wish for nothing more than a dime of
creativity to hit me,  ripple across my wrinkles
Knocking some sense in,
sink beneath my pores
So swallow my codswallop wishing well
because this is another petty penny for you.

© Matthew Harlovic