Submissions by Shinobi (Randall Reedy)

black ink drips from the easel
pouring on the albatross with red wings
envious, everything is green
as that brush touches my skin

she dips her ostrich-quill in the stain
let the juice flow like falling rain
yellow beams of light dance like fandango
paint me by numbers

sketch my features with a pencil
shaking, I'm in a frenzy
I'm not unbreakable, no armor
                                      on my skin
wine goblet smashes against
                                     the stone fireplace
...

I heard the caw of the crow
as she called to the black-winged gull
your wings are dripping kerosene
some fell from above

the suckerpunch
was when you claimed
you loved me,
lock up in these chains

in the crystal rain baby,
the bird of paradise, she doesn't swim
so now you left me with bad memories
these unmerry melodies
 playing looney tunes in my brain

these words aren't etched in stone
but they are locked inside my head
want to be left alone
but now I'm part of the walking dead...

rain dogs howl
in the thunderstorm
to hunt the hare

taxi splashes
dirty rain water
from the curbs

I heard the rain dogs
barking at parked cars
the mothership arrived
to damn soon

in the cool air
of the midnight hour
strawmen light
their innards on fire

ghosts in the darkness
coming in from the storm
matted and mud caked
fur

keep these mutts
away from me
beam me up
Scotty

these bitches keep humping
my acid washed jeans

rain dogs...