graduation eve

battered and batterer
beat  into my cave
at least it's air conditioned.

you're out of skool now
 she stopped
buying food five hours ago
and now at last you're hungry
unto starving. you know that game
and the silent scorn. she does too.

it doesn't matter. all the things i wanted
to be for you all the things i pretended i was
revolted, rattlesnakes in a canvas bag
tied with god's pleasure. it's not even gold.

the floor's   stained with lies
feet bloodied on broken dreams
stumble into ground intentions , a bit slimy
as if the accident was a dog's
that the baby put in her mouth, as babies will.

no fine promises, no promises. fine.
i can't talk because the inevitable
arrived last nite and deafened us all.
seven more weeks of this
might cure us, but most likely will just
drive the poison deeper. i hope the graduate
takes the keys to the iffy car and just drives.