Decline

naked along the side of the house,8 a.m., spreading sesame seed oilover my body,

Jesus, have I cometo this?

I once battled in dark alleys for I'm not laughing.

I splash myself with oil and wonder,how many years do you want?how many days?my blood is soiled and a darkangel sits in my brain.things are made of something andgo to nothing.

I understand the fall of cities, ofnations.a small plane passes overhead.

I look upward as if it made sense tolook 's true, the sky has rotted:it won't be long for any ofus. from The Olympia Review - 1994