Matt Pond PA

The butcher

Matt Pond PA


open up till midnight 
the butcher waits for someone's desperation 
that goes beyond control 
speaking is an invitation 

under fluorescent lights 
you can't wash out his desire 
where bodies are indecent 
and they are not in decline 
from behind the counter he thought you whispered you want more 

cut out the brights of the oncoming cars on the highway 
lightness is forced when you cut out the lines in the paper 
cut the split seconds 
the ones over-filled 
when you thought you were caught with unknowable thrills 
instead you get absence 
soft haze in the face 
the lines in your head have to all be replaced 

cleave the dry stone to a promise 
that an answer soon will follow 
grave attention is still focused 
on the flashlight and the cold fortune 

down the streets on prospect 
the butcher walks home 
orange in the streetlight 
even knows it in the dark 
proves it with his eyes closed 

he puts his red coat downstairs 
goes up into his bedroom 
undresses and folds his arms 
as if it could impress you 
from under the covers he thought you whispered you want more