Confession

What am I doing here, you ask?
I've got no place left to go.

You want a confession?
Wrap your goulash around this.

I'm a murderer. I've pointed a revolver at another man's chin, cocked back the hammer, and pulled that heavy trigger until the hammer swung down and smashed into the blasting cap. I watched his face explode in slow motion, and I marveled at the lovely pattern his brains made on the powder blue wall behind him. He's still alive, but I'm a murderer all the same.

You want more?
Pull down your sequin sunglasses and take a gander at this.

I'm an adulterer. I've been in bed with hundreds of of different women in my life. I used her body, but she never saw mine. I degraded and humiliated her, and to top it all off these lovely ladies never knew my name or saw my face.

Are you sick of it yet?

I've cheated, lied, stolen, broken, beaten, coveted, slandered... I think you're starting to get the picture.

Why am I here on the bloody ground in front of this ancient torture device? I've got no other place left to go.

We live on street corners and back alleys
pressing our faces against pastry laden store front windows.
We hear hawkers and hot doggers calling in the street,
but all we can do is stare and wonder.

I can't pretend very well, and
turning my eyes away when I think something that I shouldn't say
I disconnect from honesty for your sake, and
shuffle back.

Before and behind trailing blood, and
following a bloody trail I feel again a warm hand upon my shoulder.
Strangers give me drink and call it life's blood, and bread
body.

Now I see your face for the first time
although I've long known you by reputation.
Ragged, wretched, beaten, beautiful. My eyes
fill up with tears.

All Alone.

It made a sound. I know it must have, because everything that moves makes sound.

drip.......drip.......drip.......

There was so much other noise. Your people aren't known for their stoicism. Women wailing, thieves begging, soldiers mocking, the clouds thundering,

but I can't believe you didn't hear it.

drip.......drip.......drip......

Amidst the pounding of your heart, and your gasps for breath you must have heard it.

drip.......drip.......drip......

Your life was draining away and soaking into hard uncaring earth. Such loving liquid. It must have been a maddening and terrifying sound.

drip......drip.......drip......

A sinister voice in your head said, "You can make this stop." You chose the rack. You chose the noose. You chose this torture.

all alone with your

drip.....drip......drip.....