you said you wanted
something more
but it was all i had

you said something else
but the house was on fire

a man was at the door

he had a gun or a bible
or the bones of missing children

he said they were for you

said he still dreamed about
the taste of the sweat that ran
down the small of your back

and i remember i was lost

i remember the phone was ringing

the baby was crying

had a fever of 103
and the car wouldn't start

blood ran from the cross on
the living room wall

pooled on the floor and you
drank it and when you opened
your hands they were empty

when you opened your mouth
your words were all stained red

and the phone was ringing
and my father was dead

a man was at the door and
he said he loved you

he said it was time
and you smiled

something i'd forgotten
how to make you do


� 2004 by John Sweet