My whole family sits around my cheap table

Turning their noses up the best that they are able

Naturally I should have more than this...right?

If I weren't in debt, than I "naturally" might

But times are tough, food's expensive too

"I'm doing my best! Look what I've made for you!"

I want to scream at the top of my lungs

But they already know that I'm precariously high strung

However, with this opportunity, I will speak my mind

They have no choice but to listen, they're too damn kind

"Attention, please!" I say, quite loud

Heads turn in my direction, I continue, voice proud

"I know that these accommodations aren't quite up to par;

I also know that most of you have traveled utterly far.

But trust me, dear family, your experience will be fine!"

And then we say grace, and commence to dine.

My smile grows as the meat disappears

The multiplying compliments quell my previous fears

"Your attention once more." I command, standing tall

My hands shake as my family's faces start to fall

They can tell that something isn't right

Maybe it's my smile, maybe it's the light

That gleams in my eyes. "That wasn't turkey or ham.

That wasn't even pork, or beef, or lamb.

Do you remember my fiance? How you said she was sweet?

Well, she left me for someone else-no please, stay in your seat-

I was so hungry, and she had come here

To get her things, I suppose, and let me say, it's queer

How easy it is to break somebody's neck."

They're all quite pale now, my family is a wreck

Laughter mixes with my voice, my mouth begins to secrete

"You were absolutely right, family! She WAS very sweet!"

Mannequin

Fingers

How the recognition lingers

Oh they are all dead ringers

For those people who are gone

Sun-swept

Door frames

They're getting tired of your games

The mirror at the end reflects the sane

Your haggard reflection is gone

The sirens went off at a quarter to four

Echoing chimes shook the panes in the door

The streets were empty before the final bell boomed

All of the people hid in their dark little rooms

All except my little brother, who wasn't prepared

He had tripped and fallen, and he was very scared

The town was silent, no one dared to cough

Because Mr. Longarm comes when the sirens go off

I sit on the warm concrete sidewalk outside

Butterflies?

Flowers? 

Too many to decide

I start to notice their broken hymns

Why can I hear the birds, but can't see them?

I shield my eyes, and look up to the trees

Rustle

Caw

I rise to my knees

Then I stagger to my feet

Then my feet leave the ground

Oh

No

In my head there's a sound

It's low and soft, a clock wrapped in cloth

I can't move my arms, my breathing has stopped

My neck is stretching, my head scrapes the pine

Pop

Crack

It has broken my spine

The boils on my skin burst

black pus

The rats know that I'm

dying

The doctor said that he did all he could

But I know that he was lying.