Relentless rain wraps

its frozen sheet tightly

around my chiseled face

 

sends minions that dance,

but with attention on me

 

Most try to remember the steps

but fall into each other like dominos

 

while others trampoline upwards

or somersault backwards recklessly

 

storm troopers hold up the rear and

repel cautiously, I try getting away

 

sounds like popcorn surround me

I think it must be

pebble or stone

something solid, certainly

 

not liquid and flowing

devoid of shape.

 

I button my jacket

to try to stay dry

and open my umbrella

 

distant monkeys call

from green twisted vines

like velvet fantasies

while my umbrella flips

and water fills my boots

 

lightning strikes

and I try to speak

but thunder dampens

my chiseled words.

​

*****

​

I step out of my skin

and into a bowl

 

strong hands knead parts

that are already gone

 

break all my bones

I revel in pain

 

water, yeast helps me rise

but later cut me

 

and put who I am

in a metal machine

 

I burn as the toast

of what used to be me