MODERN NOMADICS  

i dunno
i suppose it was
two in the afternoon
or so
when the great
hobo soma
came on
pure&sober

a transient nirvana
just like
this:

i had not slept
in a set of sunsets
my nights all owned
by a lowend
porter position
in a horrific
meatmarket nightclub

you know the kind:
full of bigbreasted pseudowhores
in tightwhite pushup tops
stuffing overpainted faces
into bullthroated necks
of steroidal wifebeater
beefcake nonsouls
in goldchains&creditcards
&other cocksure
nonsense

&even niceguys became nightmares
abandoning urinals to piss on the walls
vomitting in sinks
smashing bottles against the mirror

see the deathlusting monster
fishings cups from the toilet
armed with a mop and pure malice?
that's me, kneedeep in waste
dreaming of somdomizing
these assholes
with a broomhandle
or whiskey bottle

fucking savages

anyway- 4a.m.
frees me from my slavery
putting pennies in my pocket
&i make my way
to my lovers abode
seeing as i had
no home of my own

my curses
reeking
of booze&stale cigarettes

&like a buttery theif
i sneak in christines front door
slide under the sheets
& spread her thighs

she meets me
with hungry kisses
we come o-so-close
to making it
but decide on breakfast instead

&believe it or not
i actually bought
in a cheshire grin
as she ground sleep
from her eyes
over eggs
and french vanilla

a hand touches eight
she blasts off in transit
to labour for pesos
leaving me to my beloved
vagrant streets

i share a bloodshot cigarette
with a scraggletoothed crackhead
who says:

"see how high
the seagulls fly
above the clouds
in the grainy sky?
how all the birds hide away?
it means, my friend,
by noon, it rains."

i butt out with
a 'see-you-later'
rushing off to accomplish
the mornings nondemands

wander off
to a halfstrangers
(would be lovers)
whos pity landed me
a key to her
little one room
mr.clean sanctuary
until she boomerangs back
from across this great canadian expanse

&maybe shes expecting my devotion
as payment on arrival three days away
but i've got somebody to love
&her demands are more than enough

so with my survival
taking priority
over her romantic notions
i turn the lock
&step into anothers photographs, notebooks
clothesracks &kitchenwares

are sort of
unfamiliar familiarity

&i strip off my obnoxious socks
stained pants &stinking shirt
stand in the buck
languidly scratching
my flaccid tool

a quick search of
the above oven cupboards
produces
port wine
something foreign
something strong

i don't bother with a wine glass

just uncap the bottle
&make a bathroom beeline
run the tub, test with a toe
too hot
but fuck it
slip into the great claw footed beauty
o so slowly

slide open a window
&the cool breeze contradicts the heat
&steam conceals the room

i hang a cigarette from
my dry lips
raise the bottle &drink

&IT comes on
big I big T
big ol' beat bliss
&AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH
all life becomes perfection

bottle cork steam smoke
songs of idle engines
raindrops on tin
fresh soap sore bones
distant voices fogging mirror
white towels warm belly
sanbagged eyes tips of toes
tall ceilings nicotine halo
rumbling stomache scarred knuckles
scummy teeth numbed tongue
ecstacy
sanctuary
absolute uncontaminated
euphoria

like a moment in heaven
perfect &forever
like it can't get any better

of course
curious neighbors come knocking
wondering
'what strange manner of man
now haunts our mutual bathtub?'

i drop the cigarette in the bathwater
&scrabble to conceal
my alchoholic companion
drain the water and reveal
the ring of my uncleanliness
announce
'i'll be out in a minute'
towel dry
&think

'man
they'll never know that moment
no one ever willt
that moment where
i rose like a bubble
from the bottom
soul bursting
&the whole of existence

became Light'

© 2006 ct staples