a woman smiles through her violence
the censuring sensuality of her voice
pulls at my teeth like icicles broken off a roof
she stares past her own skull
at the whiteness of this page
as i struggle with these words
my outrage at her ignorance lies impotent
i leave in peace
a man sits indifferent
but never the same after the events around him
his face was never one of note
except for the passing years
like an insect crushed under a shoe
he was changed from moment to moment
until he laughed at eternity
i smiled and gave him a quarter
