The Unmade Bed

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 The Unmade Bed


Written By


David Steven Simon


The unmade bed
is a still-life study of
the final moments of last night
a Wee Gee crime scene photo
of muffled sheets
throttled comforter
and bumped-off pillows
that lie
slumped over 
like Crazy Joe
on a cold slab of Little Italy concrete
minutes after the hit.

Judging by the evidence
There was a struggle
The work of a professional nightmare
The weapon was memories
a slow-acting poison
that no human can survive.

According to experts
Its lethal ingredient was sorrow
That caused the victim
To be visited by the pageant of lost loves
who arrived
as they always do
one by one
Just as eyelids close
like evening primrose
which know how to protect themselves
from the ravages of the night

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