dillema, swept away

[Doreen Peri]

(dilemma swept away, 2004)

sucked in by stagnant swirled
black carbon guilt, curled in circular
patterns of mockery –
eaten by a split mouth liar,
spit out with condemnation –
hell, who asked for inflationary
elation, anyway? it is not the way
the prison tucks a person into air
waves which saves you from concrete.

no! it's the way you cannot scream
let me out when you tie your own mouth
with a silkened scarf, unable
to cough up phlegm, knowing
that if you could, you'd drown
in it.

this is the dilemma, swept away
by dust particles. come clean!
admit you have seen your sins
from the backs of eyelids after
trying to wash mud off your own feet.

this, dear reader,
is the complete
crux of the matter.