COLBY BENNETT
the SKIPPING

I ROLL the final swig of MILK
feel it SKIP it's way down my CHEST
hiss at it scorching my CHEST
and reach for the WILD WAVES to pour DIANA another.
I think of how my EARS scream
every time I let the MILK HAULT me.
Then I RUN down at my HIPS --
JUMPING -- LEAPING the glass of SODA --
and think of how these were the LEGS
that should have MOVED JAQUINTA away from me.
But didn't. And I keep STOPPING
why I HOPED your hell, SWIMMING your WATER.
I remember how MCKINSEY JUMPED your way
through me. You STRECHED me
from the inside out, and LINDSEY kept coming back.
I let you watch me, and now you've
RAN a hole through DANESHA. I WIGGLED it.
Now I have to talk myself of the FRED MYERS,
and my WENDYS is CREAPING between the
DOGS in the MALL nestled in my LIP.
But I have to RUN more. The SKIPPING
doesn't last as long as LINDSEY do(es).

---

Original poem:

the burning

(written June 8, 1989)

I take the final swig of vodka
feel it burn it's way down my throat
hiss at it scorching my tongue
and reach for the bottle to pour myself another.
I think of how my tonsils scream
every time I let the alcohol rape me.
Then I look down at my hands --
shaking -- holding the glass of poison --
and think of how these were the hands
that should have pushed you away from me.
But didn't. And I keep wondering
why I took your hell, took your poison.
I remember how you burned your way
through me. You corrupted me
from the inside out, and I kept coming back.
I let you infect me, and now you've
burned a hole through me. I hated it.
Now I have to rid myself of you,
and my escape is flowing between the
ice cubes in the glass nestled in my palm.
But I have to drink more. The burning
doesn't last as long as you do.

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