Mid Fall

Mid Fall

By: James Dubeau

Footfall after footfall

Against the trail

Running across the countryside

The sun tried to cling to the sky

But slowly fell behind me

Joining leafless trees

And dead prairie grass

Upon the horizon

It is these autumn days

Same days as last year

And the year before that

Which has me wondering

About my place in this world

As I watch those blossoms

Which once had vitality

Wither and die

Under a Sanguine Moon

Under a Sanguine Moon

By: James Dubeau

“That’ll be two fifty.” Lauren said as she grabbed a bottle of beer from behind the bar. Her short red hair was a stark contrast to the black dress and pinstriped suit coat. A single strand of pearls clung tight to her neck and added a splash of coloration to her pale complexion. She patted pockets in search of the bottle opener.

“I got it,” Jonah popped off the bottle top and pocketed the opener. His curled mustache flexed as he winked through horn rim glasses. The pink elephant on his vintage t-shirt seemed to copy the move. He had been drinking and conversing with the bartender all evening.

“You’re the last. It’s closing time.”

“Had to keep my new favorite bartender company.”

“Thank you for the conversation. It has been most appreciated on this slow night. Would you care to join me for a walk when I finish closing up?” She smiled.

“But of course.”

By the time he drained the bottle she had finished the closing duties and had dragged him into the crisp night air. Jonah walked his bike as they walked through the Monroe Street neighborhood. They soon were walking through Forest Hill cemetery. City lights were hidden behind the trees surrounding the old cemetery. A clearing at the top of a hill gave them the opportunity to gaze at the night sky in tranquility.

“I love the sanguine moon when it is bright and big and full of life.” Ruby lips exposed a broad wolfish grin.

“I’m glad you invited me along.” Jonah wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.

Lauren locked him in a tight embrace as her lips met his then wandered in lustful flurry across his face and neck. Teeth grazed his flesh. She paused and looked up with large doe eyes which glowed red and mean with hunger. Vampire fangs glinted in the moonlight before sinking deep into his flesh. His blood boiled into her mouth.

Jonah screamed and struggled to free himself. He fished the bottle opener from his pocket and stabbed her side with the pointed end. She reeled in pain, letting him kick free of her embrace. Before she could swoop upon him Jonah was on his bike weaving past gravestones. As he neared the entrance the bike slammed into a gravestone, sending him tumbling from the bike, and destroying the front wheel. He was to his feet and limped into a maintenance shed before the vampire caught up to him.

“Got a little fight in you, I like that.” Lauren pounded on the shed door.

Jonah leaned against the door, bracing against her efforts. He searched for a weapon as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. She over powered him, knocking the door open. Jonah snatched the first hard object his fingers touched and turned to face his attacker.

Lauren lunged into Jonah, knocking him against the wall. The pair stood face to face, their bodies pressed together. For a moment neither moved. No words were spoken. She took half a step back. A pair of hedge clippers was lodged between her ribs. She blinked once then fell to the floor.

Exhaustion overtook Jonah and he too collapsed. Lauren lay unmoving. Her large eyes had a vacant stare towards the ceiling. He turned to search for a tool to ensure the vampire’s destruction but when he turned around she was gone. Only the clippers remained where she had lay.

Roulette

Roulette

By: James Dubeau

Click

Soulless days

Spent punching 9 to 5

For a soulless company

Only filling space

Only filling time

Only a number

A lonely cog in the machine

Click

Soulless life

No true friends

To hang out with

Talking about this and that

Being real

Being true

Being there

Click

Soulless love

No one to come home to

To be in love with

No one to cheer for

No one to be cheered by

Empty bed

Empty heart

Click

Soulless home

No family left

Parents are gone

Along with all others

Who bear the same name

Dead and buried

Or left estranged

Click

Go out on a limb

Make an effort

Fill the days

With life and love

And home will sing

Happiness and joy

An overflowing soul

Bang

Unblinking Black Eye

Unblinking Black Eye

By: James Dubeau

The unblinking black eye watched me.

I thought about the size of the holes

It would put into me.

I thought about the quick death

He could grant me.

I thought about the death he brought

Upon my beloved.

I thought about the weight

Of my revolver at my side.

I thought about the days

I spent as a young man

Practicing quick draws in the mirror.

I thought about the aches

In my aging hands.

I thought about the slowness of my revolver

Which had not been fired

In many years before this day.

Am I Dreaming

Am I Dreaming
By: James Dubeau

Several nights ago
I had dreamed
Death’s hand
Taking me under
To join those
That went before me
Tonight
I am left to wonder
Did I ever wake
From that dream
Am I still living
The life I led
Or are those
Unnatural painted skies
A sign
That I never awoke
That I died
On the side of the road
An my mind conjured
The most gorgeous sunsets
Day after day
As my soul
Floats on through
Finding its way
To the after life
Or at least
Occupying time until
I open my eyes
To a sterile white room
With tubes in my body
Keeping me alive
Until I awoke

Death’s Hand

Death’s Hand
By: James Dubeau

I can feel
Death’s boney finger
Hovering high above
Waiting
To grasp me
To pull me under
Joining those
Who have gone before
My heavy eyes
Accept the fate
He has in store
I could fight
To stay awake
To take matters
Into my own hands
But I am weak
Exhausted
The fight gone
From these old bones
I let darkness
Wash over me
And the skeletal hand
Drag me under

Dark Days

Dark Days
By: James Dubeau

Staring into the darkness
Can’t tell if my eyes
Are open
Or closed
Rain rattles against the window
Closing me in
Cutting off
The rest of the world
Wetness wells in my eyes
Shivers down my body
I don’t want to be alone
Not right now
Not on these dark days

September 23, 2011

September 23, 2011
By: James Dubeau

You never know
What this world
Has in store
From one day
To the next
This day started
Just like any other
Minor aches and pains
Bitching about work
One job then the other
But yet
When the day was over
It all no longer mattered
For all of life
And all the realities
Came striking down
When I got the call
From my good friend
That my good friend
His wife
Holly
Was dead

In Black Alley

In Black Alley
By: James Dubeau

In black alley
I stood alone
When year’s first flakes
Began to fall
A hulking form
Encased in shadow
Stood just beyond
And blocked any hope
Of a reprieve
Puffs of fog
Escaped my lips
An ascending spirit
But there was no shiver
From my soul
On this winter’s night

In black alley
Between the bricks
The concrete
And the sky
Parting clouds
Undress the moon
Revealing everything
There were no words
To cut the stillness
The silence
Or the night

BANG
Flesh ripped
BANG
Sinew torn
BANG
Bones shatter
BANG
Brains splatter
BANG
BANG
BANG

Wet snowflakes
Drift lazily
Swirling in a breeze
A body lay
In pooling blood
Entombed
By death’s decree
And that is where
It did stay
Alone and dead
Until winter’s end
In black alley

Midnight Hour

Midnight Hour
By: James Dubeau

Staring into the darkness
I can’t tell
If my eyes are open
Or closed
If I am alive
Or dead
Rain rattles against the window
Closing me in
Cutting off the rest of the world
Wetness wells in my eyes
My body trembles
I don’t want to be alone
Not right now
Not on these dark days

You Never Know

You Never Know
By: James Dubeau

You never know
What this world
Has in store
From one day
To the next

This day started
Just like any other
Minor aches and pains
Bitching about work
One job
Then the next

But yet
When the day was almost over
It all no longer mattered
For all of life
And all the realities
Came striking down
When I got the call
From my good friend
That my good friend
His wife
Was dead

Dark Alley

Dark Alley
By: James Dubeau

My 45
Weighs heavy
In my hand
Against my soul
As I step
With trepidation
Down the dark alley
Eyes dart across
Every shadow
Every hiding place
For that scumbag to lurk
A trashcan crashes
I wheel to face
The daemon I chased
From the darkness emerged
A stray cat
Then from behind me
A handgun exploded
Cordite reached my nostrils
Above rotten garbage
I fell to my knee
My 45 clattered
Against the pavement
Impotent
Against that vagabond
Against my killer
Sprinting from the alley

Last Night Together

Last Night Together
By: James Dubeau

Our lips met
We closed together
Tight
Passion flared
Before removing
My white over shirt
Not wanting to stain it
That shade of crimson
I knew what had to be done
By yet
The knife trembled
In my hand
Our eyes met
The short blade
Pierced flesh
Plunging
Twirling
Removing the unwanted
Slicing in twain
My hands
Became stained
Deep crimson
Droplets splattered
The counter and tile
I kissed her lips
And discarded
The waste

Only A Few More Days

Only A Few More Days
By: James Dubeau

Only a few more days
To go
Only a few more days
To live
Only a few more days
Until I die
A painful death
Beside the road
With an exploded knee
Gasping for breath
Crawling across gravel
And burning asphalt
Attempting to absolve
My soul
In sweat, blood, and tears
And like always
Falling flat
Failing

Unfinished Ballad

Unfinished Ballad
By: James Dubeau

The cold had a frigid bit
As snow fell throughout the night
Down through the bombed out roof
Of the beloved Boar’s Red Hoof

Coughing Zack reached for a smoke
And mumbled a dry bad joke
Quinn smiled and tried to ignore
The crimson blood upon the floor

They sure got me good back there
Zack had said and then did swear
Why the hell did those bombs fall
He had lost it all and began to bawl

We are here and that matters
Humanity maybe tatters
We will still be fighting on
Until the last of them are gone

Quinn then passed a whiskey jar
You will have a wicked scar
Zack did laugh and then he winced
His fate was sealed Quinn was convinced

Crash! Bomb! The wall exploded
Giant beast then unloaded
Shells and bullets then did fly
Under a red evil eye

Quinn did duck behind the bar
Zack was not behind by far
Or so she thought when she did move
But he had something left to prove

I’m not going without a fight
Zack had stood, his rifle tight
Returning fire on that night
It sure was quite the sight

The metal beast, it did glare
It did not move, just stood there
Bullets hit silver skin
As sweat rolled off Zack’s poor chin

Get out of here Zack did shout
It’s closing time without a doubt
This mother is going down
So you should get out of town

Quinn did duck and she did weave
Zack pulled grenades from his sleeve
The metal monster kept firing
Trying to stop the conspiring

Killer Mime

Killer Mime
By: James Dubeau

Once upon a time
There was a mime
Who dropped a dime
On poor old Clementine

She didn’t know
If it was her old foe
Or it was her beau
But it was only Moe

He did sail
After the whale
That was named Dale
Who was out on bail

But those were the days
When he drank into a haze
To be lost in the maze
Until the next phase

When Dale was found dead
Lost in his bed
Where he had been bled
And Clementine’s hands were red

Goblins Dance

Goblins Dance
By: James Dubeau

Goblins dance
About a cold fire
With the fury
Of a worm’s
Contempt for life
Awaking the spirits
In the trees
In the rocks
In the air
Demanding strength
Upon their domain
To bury
Hawkwing’s passions
Away for good
For time
To scatter

Line In The Sand

Line In The Sand
By: James Dubeau

Line in the sand
Can’t be crossed
Shouldn’t be crossed
By these heavy feet

Line in the sand
Marks where daemons roam
Free to play
Upon wicked ways

Line in the sand
On up ahead
Just beyond
Where salvation lies

Line in the sand
Thin red trickle
Slowly flowing
Dripping across dunes

Line in the sand
Crosses under
Circling buzzards
Cawing for me

Line in the sand
Leads me to
My comrades
Rotting corpses

Line in the sand
Pools blood at
My good friend’s
Outstretched palm

Line in the sand
Ended here
With these good men
And so will I

When I Knew Him

When I Knew Him
By: James Dubeau

When I knew him
We were both
Young men
Children really
Going though
The simple woes
That all do
At that age
As the years passed
We grew apart
As always happens
I deserted my friends
Left for college
When that failed
And I returned
I did not seek
Those friends
Which were left behind
As the sands of time
Buried them away
For a decade
Or so
But as the wind blows
Sand to obscure
Wind also blows
Sand to reveal
Slowly
Those lost friends
Are returning to me
One by one
In unexpected ways
But
When a hand extends
From the depths of sand
That might be
The only chance
I have to grab a hold
Bringing them back
Into my life
That one chance
Is what I had
With him
Instead of reaching out
Grabbing his hand
I let him slip under
Now he is gone
For good
And I can no longer
Speak to him
And say
We are still friends

I Don't Know

I Don’t Know
By: James Dubeau

I don’t know
What to say
What to think
When I look into your eyes
In bygone pictures
Of bygone times
All that I can do
Is kick myself
For not saying hi
When I heard you were in town
When I heard about the cancer
When I heard the end was near
Why did I not
Make that one
Single
Solitary
Step
After that decade
Was it fear
Was it denial
All that I can do now
Is hope
And pray
That you are looking
Down from above
Smiling
Over all the outpouring
From friends
And family
Those near and dear
As well as those
Who stood
At arms length