After last night it's hard to shine

After last night I'm surprised the day even came

But it came

A train of obscene images

Moving through the black hedge

Aching and thick with rust

All showing as soon as the sun comes up

It takes light to the paper

It burns its head and throat

Spreading a rash of arsenic magnolias and crushed coal

A fire in its heart

Will not let it die

It roars and fumes and cries all day

Shoot me out the sky

Pop pop Down goes the enemy

The shade came under the roses finally

Us on our backs in the back yard

Under the trees

Attempting to breathe

Attempting to see

Attempting to feel anything

The rain that claimed the sky as it shined

Pulled the shutters down on light

We sigh and sit and worship it as it ends.