tyrannical bulimic panic button pushed

foot soldiers fall face first

into trench shaped pits.

 

torches and gaslights light up the line

shivering the bent, hunched spine

of a serene scoliosis queen.

 

the skyline sinks beneath cracked lips

cap in hand, hat over face

shading a nameless space cadet in the rat race.

 

      chit chat

        tit for tat

        ratta tat tat

    would you look at this

  the sky lay undressed

spread pressed across the ceiling of night.

 

gypsy bells, whistles and dangling earrings

jingle, dancing crystal ball smoky croaking

hocus pocus absurdist daydreams.

 

    blink blank

      fade to black

        open the gates

        for the red pepper brigade

    guarding the entrance passage

    to sweet dream escapes. 

 

corners of a circle

round the bend

round the bend

          :::

poison for a fool

again and again

again and again.

 

inside in

inside out

                 stay put

until they put you out.