motionless ride.

do you remember what happened
that night you were taken away?
he was so loud in his silence
and the wheels moved so quickly in the rain.
he had a wingman by his side
and a switchblade in his hand.
and you pulled your sleeves down over your thumbs
as you got into the van.
the cinderblocks were so heavy
beneath his motionless ride
bearing weight on your legs and on the
skin under your eyes.
you were gone for hours
but only a few minutes had passed
the breeze was the sound of your breath
breaking on the other side of the glass.

did you even know where you were going
that night you were going home?
six denim thighs re-routed your
tomorrows and your muscles, and your bones.
he made you promises for your silence
and hung fire from your ears.
and this was the life that you had chosen
for nearly two years.
he had his mother's eyes and he wore
his brother's clothes
he drowned whatever was left of him
in the noise from the radio.
"rock on" he'd say while he was driving
and pat you on your head
then he would smear you with the ashes
from his cigarette.
"you can come into my house" he said
"if you can keep it down"
and that was what began your life of crime
underground

and now you cringe when you look
at yourself in the mirror
and sometimes, you go days without answering the phone
and on the days when you're thinking
a little clearer
you wish i was there back then, so you didn't have to go in alone.


2007