gum on the shoe of a man with a gun
that and a nose for trouble, head for booze and eye for
the kinda girl who can make a crowded bar sweat
condensation beading on lips
even the glasses can’t look away
in a red dress and heels she walks in
what else. dames. every one acts like
she’s the first case walked in here all
week. can’t remember the last time
head pounds hangover, lip curls to cut.
“Hey Dollface…”but
this one’s different
she has a gun
too
hammer cocked back .38 cyclops wide primed against
anvil of recognition. ACME printed on the side.
chest caves in memory implosion
Wile E Coyote flat in the wake
Roadrunner in red raises one black brow
over
those eyes
ice blue diamonds glitter
“you have the most beautiful eyes…“
in a sundress and a straw hat she poured cheap wine
seedy celebration for a job well done
wicked smile danceswell, never thought I’d see you
again with the gun? you always had issues with
trust me. I know what I’m
gun handle pole axe stun temple desecrated
floored. fade to black. oblivion
as welcoming a sight I have not
seen the plates on the getaway car. feet staggered to
running down the dingy stairs, two at a time
tires squeal, ignition catches. sputters
“stop it. you silver tongued….”
a kiss, a glance, frame a moment .
two thieves at the top of their gameengage. pursuit. not again you siren
wails, screech, dodge the fuzz, speeding
to conclusions. she must have come
for the empty band of skin on a white knuckled hand on the wheel
for the fingers, so fragile. love is a femme fatale with a knife in hand
for the memory of better days, the broken knuckles of a brawler, a drunk, a
“A toast. To us. To the best thieves in this damn dirty…”
city lights wash out the stars but all he sees
diamond eyes reflect the streetlights halogen glare
backlit billboards set the scenethieving witch, this is what I get. never trust a
fool and his money, funny how cool the breeze
clears the air. breathe in clean
she always did have nerves of steel and
curves in the road betray how he feels
his way in the darkness, car parked a block
away she ran but tabs kept. bolt hole motel can’t run
gun in hand. gum on shoe. hands of a man who knows he won’t shoot
“here. I want you to have this…”
dive bar at 3AM, heads packed with sand, hearts full
a pull from the bottle, a neon love song
married to the thrill of the chasejust to see her one more time can’t trust my own mind
can’t turn her in but oh through the
window pane ballet, Venetian blinds broken
she looks at a glint of light in her palm.
tears fall like shell casings the last time
fingers curl, clutch like churls for lust
woman in a red dress. legs to here and pain for years
“two halves, one heart. two diamonds….”
