22/30

4/22/13

Villanelle for Bukowski


Pen scratches the page leaking whiskey and gin,
each black mark a wound reopened, a throe -
yet verses come easy when rooms start to spin.

When sleeping and fucking and eating wear thin,
 find smoke and oak, dim lights to lay low -
pen scratches the page leaking whiskey and gin

Shaded windows belie the comfort within
eyes downcast, only concerned with what's low
yet verses come easy when rooms start to spin.

Stumble home sated and smelling of sin
collapse at the desk, a welcome plateau
Pen scratches the page leaking whiskey and gin

Sun creeps through the window when one must begin
sets the amber liquid in the tumbler aglow - 
verses come easy when rooms start to spin.

rare moments when one feels safe in his skin,
the rushing and splashing of laced blood below
pen scratches the page leaking whiskey and gin,
yet verses come easy when rooms start to spin.