September Stories

I've got a way with speech and a hundred thousand reasons not to.
I'm bored and tired of feeling tired and bored
And much more,
I'm running out of breath and wasting
What little
I've got
On brick wall stares and blank page faces

The bones of this town
     tell September stories
               out loud
     on top of chill and silence
I sense that Fall is coming early
     In the rain on the wind on squint-creased faces
                                                                    like mine

I've got a ways to walk and many reasons why I want to.
I'm poor and sick of feeling sick and poor.
And six more
Months spent in this place just might kill me
If not,
I guess
Brown drinks and your cold, ashen face will

Bleached bones of your smile
     clamp September stories
               Down tight
     inside so they can't be heard
     You've blurred my face out for the last time
From the frame, from the place with blasée faces
                                                               And times

You've got a gift for talking, I'll
          give you one good reason not to...

(September 30, 2010)