An Alliance with The Silence

by Jim Dunn

When you make a pact with yourself
And whisper the secret prayer
In the city of Sacraments, Sacred city
Sacremento
Lawns freshly mown at the mercy
Of the sadness of the sun
The smell of cut grass mingles with
The pungent punch of burnt rope
The deadline has passed
Filing a different kind of no return
Claiming ghost dependents
Leaving not one word
Signed silent treaty with
Your lemon demon diplomats
Warring nations cease fire
I won’t fight it anymore
I will swing like a trance
I won’t flutter moth-like in ruined shadows
I will swing from heaven on a beam of light

When you promise yourself
You are not fooling anyone
And you speed fantastic like a jester
Tripping in secret visions that
Chase you down the golden highways
Of the technicolor rainbow break
The heightened suspense of the collapsing mine
States your case in certain terms
Spooking the man on the stand
Being interrogated by a bare bulb

Seeing is I’m leaving
The truth is out there
Let it in.

A slip kid running in slow motion
Chasing down a fly ball
Makes the catch of a lifetime
Before the blast of hot air
And the explosion of pure pursuit
Curious child looks like a wild refugee
Almond eyes fine straight black hair
Fine as darkness

Black as soft rain
Sweet kid with a put-the-hammer-down left hook
Fierce fire consuming his matchstick mind
Tinder and kindling go up in mad smoke
A sudden burst of fury
Then the rain on scorched earth sings
The smoldering passion of his torched heart