Burning Sheets

The wing & a prayer crows poked me awake
squabbling religiously
over bragging rights to the skies
but a lowly chicken elevated to divine status
& cleverly martyred in black bean fire
to be recklessly devoured after midnight
in a soulless motel room drabber than grits
by a lonesome emo chimp cuddling his latest novia
(an empty tequila bottle)
soon became the loudest voice
mafia bossing my gut along a spice laden tour
through intestinal dream city
as testy as the boiler on the African Queen
one zillion quintessentially honed nerve endings
begging me to leap out of bed
all systems go
definitely not a drill
the moment to abandon ship
& for shitting ugly black feathers
was now...

But the bastard voice of all things in moderation
mysteriously absent last night
when cocksure tastebuds schooled the roost
began to croon a trickle of sparrow syrup
lullabying my inner ear:
Relax mi amigo
start your day slowly
Don't spread your wings
so soon...

I never made it to the bathroom
but remembered to tip the maid
learning when you can't clean up
your own
dollars sing holier than birds
& that there's no escape
from shit