thing i wanted to try. apologies to e. e. cummings, et al.
board hanging down like a sleeping limb
fallen from the bed
dense forest spotlights
dot
our
path
not really here, we are faithless
hovering on borders
entering like killers through the parted lips of a dying scream
tip-toeing through the guilty quiet
up
the
stairs
smashed window holding strawbeds
curtain drawn on a spotlight
for our performance
(click)
a sink trailing copper entrails
an alter atop caving boards
a doorway
disabused of its chastity
windows backed up to the wall in surrender
(click)
and the light is fading
whispering things only our cameras can hear
searching and coming up empty
we saw what we came to see
electrical panel marring the wall
open though it could close its eyes and hide in the familiar safety of woodgrain
too late now for sparks or tears
bodies lie where they were left
sprawled in anachronistic poses
until the dumptruck comes to collect them
we exit with empty pockets in single file
we didn't come for last respects
we came to see ourselves from the outside