out out out out out

hard iron bars station cages
where silver cars snake through
musty brown capillaries;
red blood cells barely harbor
oxygen, pace to and fro
on the panting stuffed alveoli

she waits for the shuttle to Broad Channel,
beads still in her hair
chest heavy palms dry -
death hops the turnstile, death is strong
death ate her math homework.
he took her shoelaces too
now her tongues loll out all
hey hey sloppy-
drool drivel undry-
paces the boardwalk,
chainsmokes; red messed lipstick.
skin is plastic bags hanging
death is huge death sneaks in through
the kitchen window death-
cries rattle and rent clear air
and death smothers them

thin Clem waits
stationed white gown folded chair
oh the Mets oh my wife the twins oh King Cobra -
oh I think I see lights. plastic grin cane and hip
oh death is death is death is sweet
death is waiting on the front porch he'll be there all night