---

George Lewis Avery

---

i was one familiar
with the night and
there was a rabbit
circumnavigatin on the spit
and a smell of coffee
wafting alongside of it
the gent was a squattin
with a brace o beans
he was eatin out o the tin
stern face reflectin the fire
his broad back to the night
fending off the cold stare
of intrudin eyes
nor did he indicate
by his indifferent stance
that he had heard
my stealthy approach
[from behind]
i was not hungry
nor in need of company
what i required was a grubstake
and why need one borrow
when one can take

i brought my club
crushing down
but the stranger too
was one accustomed
[like me]
to the night
with all its mystery
and sound
[i missed]
but he
drove 9 inches of steel
between my ribs
and i spilled out
on the sand
while he wiped his blade
on my tunic
and smiled
[with indifference]
down at me

as i
drifted beyond his reach
i turned my pale eyes
towards Hades
and the cobblestones
grew ever warmer
underneath my feet
till i was standing
on glowing coals
outside the gate
thats when
i glanced down to realize
the smiling bastard
had deprived me of my shoes

.oeg ©