malice

the friendly nudge
breaks through
with rubberless precision,
and sets
this fragile shuddering
into longsawn timber;
go lumber limber
frail as tinder
through labyrinths leaden,
you'll not escape
the stifling cape
will track you down,
and stonehenge hands
will drill
this fretting gimlet
through your temples
tautlytrusting.

—J.D.F.