September chill

I’ll always remember September

like empty halls

that mumble my name

late at night

while on a bender

and sometimes

I see sleeping dragons

as puffs of smoke twirl from their noses -

sounds of winter

bleed

from the center

of a star

I once wished upon

smothered

with guilt and shame -

I pick pieces of life

from fingernails

flick them in the sea

and let them wash

away to distant shores

tremble at the confrontation

of my wounds

because the clock

is stuck at a transition

of a clear image -

cold comfort licks my face

I’ve written my name in blood

one too many times

wedged in spaces

between sentences

while hours hang precariously

like an albatross around my neck

I like the way the wind feels

hidden ‘neath the cracks of my skin

transformed into rhythm

takes the place of emotions -

the very breath I breathe

sucked into a vacuumed chill

and I would pray

but does god really listen to people

nine shades of blue

hell bent on destruction

gnawing on their own bones

wide eyed and bushy tailed

after a 4 day bender

still thinking the early bird catches the worm

because shit smells like shit

no matter how much perfume you use

to disguise the fragrance

and if I have an itch

I’m damn well gonna scratch it

because September

only comes once a year

every year -

that’s when  I demand my best

no matter how many winters bleed

from the center of a star

and try to swallow me whole

9/21/08

here's to you Cinnary...