Coleslaw

Upon mortal knives I fantasize that I dance

Carefree:

That is, free of worry

Need

Responsibility;

Free of demand;

Free of banks and mortgages and paycheques;

Free of showing up to work

And getting out of bed

And making coffee and fixing my lunch the night before

So I can drag myself to another day of sacrificed soul….

Upon mortal knives I fantasize that I dance

As in conversation

I, knowing or unknowing

Confident, shy, afraid or in control,

The room my audience

My jury

My friend

My executioner….

Upon mortal knives I fantasize that I fall

And they cut through my flesh

Shredding me
Like coleslaw

Or documents

Receipts

Memos

Commands

Or even just love letters to mistresses or other women we should not know

Upon mortal knives I fantasize I paint pictures

Of smiling faces….

Upon mortal knives I lay one night

Slowly sinking

Slowly taking

As I always knew I would

Their steel

Their cold

Their sharp, sharp reality

Into the finiteness

That is

Me