he walks by me
power a learned weapon
stolen
after so many years
of breaking sisters down
to build himself up.
he has tucked strength
like a mighty sword
between
belt
and
beer gut
and
now passes me
like he owns this fear im in.
Pitch black night
and two
neon signs
lend terror
from all of the women before me.
im sure he's felt nothing like
free falling
like the ten feet from the car
to the door
is
forever when shadows loom larger
than
luminescence.
i am
one heart beating
eyes open
and
on focus.
listening for
overly confident steps on
pavement.
he has disappeared
ego like
a musty scent all around me.
i wonder where he hides.
what he has left behind.
could he possibly know
what it feels like to miss the night?
to make separation between
the dense weight of
blackness
and defense?
i see him as i drive away
his threat trailing behind my car
like smog emissions
or the fire of
sordid exhaust.