Ten to Twelve.
My daughter sleeps.
It won't be long
'til alarm clock beeps.

In these few hours
of peaceful quiet,
she can escape
life's rot and riot.

Let tomorrow bring
a brighter day--
promises filled;
hurt melts away.

I want to fix it.
I want to keep
her safe from storms.

She just needs sleep.

For Jenifer.

Downfall.
by Gabe Wollenburg.

Wall up your heart.
Make it impenetrable.
No one can hurt you. Cast away your love.

Wall up your soul.
Slide it into automatic.
You never make choices that make any difference. Any difference anyway.

Live in a hole.
Face to the ground.
Wait for the bombs to fall all around you.

Everything destroyed; not the things that you care about.
Take hold of your core so that you wake to tomorrow’s glorious sunrise and feel nothing.
It is your survival on the line.

Wake up later
choking on your own blood.
Take your goddamn medicine.