Almost a fable where dogs are enabled to speak like boys Almost a reptile, splayed in the sunshine, missing it's tail Almost a landmark covered in spraypaint, thumbtacks and nails Almost a red star, a polaroid flash a gleam in her eye It's best not to mock her, sobbing and coughing, slumped on the stairs Spiraling through the same ugly building all of us shared Goddamn the stench, the smell of the garbage bags tossed in the hall Witnesses gathering, too scared, Jehovah waits out on the lawn He's standing outside near basketball nets made of chain Baring his teeth before children who wait to play a quick game I'll beg a little (let's just stay here a while) just enough to take your mind (won't you please come inside?) off of the trouble (I'm afraid of the dark) I'll fix the clocks when we get back the lights (so quiet tonight) Just one thing at a time You're not so heavy or tortured or comfortable or totally distinct Almost a red star, a polaroid flash a gleam in her eye It's best not to mock her, sobbing and coughing, slumped on the stairs Spiraling through the same ugly building all of us shared