Poison:

Eyes
open; body, mind, being,
becoming aware
of the post sleep need
to urinate, to feed
the soul with nicotine
and caffeine, then
awareness
of a clock's slow passage,
sun out side, the murder
calling on the wind...

Before any
of these register -

Numbness at arm
and legs end -
a tickling tingle registering
through slow fogs
as the question is asked:

"Have I short-circuited
again? Or is this just
the slow choking
of arteries - the fading poison
in the muscles?"

The world
resumes with great snaps -
shoulder joints - poison
faded, clock ticking
slower with each second
and post sleep needs
of the soul -
consciousness settles
with the sun and Crow -
eleven days until lubrication, eleven
days till the poisoning
that gives life.

_(06-29-2010)