the box of nails from the top shelf

the naked haunting city
licks up the night

cool winds play
       in fearless flight

the beast awaits it turn

there is peace in the
         chaos of the night
         where bodies churn
         and the reckless children
         scream at dawn's breathless
                      highway folding

mark the tombs by gas lamp,
each date a birth by its
own right
    and so goes reckless abandon
    by the chaos of the night

our hidden prayers for those
    who will not wake
our empty stares
    blinded by sight
for the truth we cannot shake
    even in the reckless
         chaos of the night

peering into the sun
    our grazing eyes
            deplore
into flames we succumb
    until our frail bodies
                are no more

reach up to the city lights
    and the tired whores
                  illuminated
    and the ragged vagrants
                  consummated

can you hear them speaking
your name
in time with the grinding beats
of the skin drums
calling hollowed in your name
where the reckless insane
chant melody
in the pouring rain?

          wake up and receive
                    penance
                        for
                    pleasure

tear the coffins from their frames
call on me and i will speak
                       your name
stand up and lick the mourning grief
before we're delivered
from such relief