999 Z76

the train rumbled past
I was stirred awake
with a cigarette in my hand
asleep on the couch
with a spilled beer
at three in the afternoon

dreamt of her brother
never met the boy
oh she was screaming
telling him to get away from me
I just stared like a fool
like it happened a few days ago

thought about a promise
to know me true
and I got a measurement
in thorns
where did my country heart go

she guaranteed a lack of fear
if the hood was lifted

I got hit by a stray bullet
in my lungs
coughed up blood

if she ever wanted to find me
I’d be on my stairs
looking at the men holding hands
at the women staring
at the police strolling by

maybe my number is blocked

I jump out of my seat
when I get a message
always hoping
she’ll want to know the rest

where
did
my
days
go
when
I
was
eating
snakeskin