released

Powder your fuck ups

Powder your cheeks

Porcelain, perfect

Hazy and dream-like

Ready for war,

Wait in the clinic

Arms at your side

Tongue at the ready

Finger release,

An easy mistake

Stumble out drunkenly 

Future delayed 

Outline your eyes,

With a scope 

Or a barrel

The safety released 

Watch for a sign,

Real or conjured

In the spiraling metronome 

Of your mind

submerged

I wait,

Watching the door

Hold my beer in one hand,

Coffee spills over the other

I drink,

Watching the door

Hold a gun in one hand,

Fingers crossed in the other

Welcome home,

This carpeted canvas 

of macabre banality,

Flowers and salt

I am a pillar, 

Waiting to turn. 

You are a ship,

Nearly submerged.