gallons of wine, but never a rose  

under thunderclap black skyblot threats
of angelspit & unforgiveness

out the door & into the storm
unhanded savage hysteric & blind

brassiers toothbrush teacups tampons
gone artless wheeling crashed haphazard

beerspill spattered beneath mutter
& lovedrops drool for ideals unwinding

because another one is not the One
& there is no One & alone again

scrawny second-rate Chinaski
shirtless & righteous pouring ale on ail

the emptied room etching an ache
brutal blue into future recollection

a raw & crude jailbird tattoo

and it was done
used and
useless

love become
another burned out lightbulb
in the hallway of a life

© 2006 c t staples