50's Crime Kills An Audience

A wee poem.

His name- Jack or Johnny or Cliff

shatters chocolate fog.

A tip of the hat, he winks

and warehouse walls dripped thick warm paint.

His coat, his smile, his anger

is a flashlight in the night.

He touches her arm and her lungs flare.

Her name- Marguerite or Judy or Grace

oozes red and glows like a lamenting angel

Looks up and he forgets it all.

Revenge, Retribution, Resurrection

It's penance for him and pleasure for her.

They'll survive

And we, as an audience,

Hope for a monster to fill our empty selves.