holds the throttle
like a sword, smiling.
most teeth missing,
oh, and maybe a missing link,
he wants to execute someone,
has for weeks.
the dark carnival goes
town to rural Southern town,
with Midway in tow.
he is “The Tilt-O-Whirl” master,
making people cry out
in fear, sometimes in joy,
sometimes simply to vomit.
for so long it was enough,
till Gloria, “The Snake Girl,”
broke up with him.
he can’t kill her,
much as he wants to.
too many know about them.
so in every podunk hollow
he smiles his blank grin
and tries to decide which
young, happy couple in love
should be sacrificed.
his fingers are twitching.
he is aroused now.
each car is filled with young love.
he can taste the sex.
he lets loose the throttle
full speed, watches the cars
one by one
fly through the sky,
every thud a blessing.
~~~
BIO: Christopher Woods is a writer, teacher and photographer who lives in Texas. He has published a novel, THE DREAM PATCH, a prose collection, UNDER A RIVERBED SKY, and a book of stage monologues for actors, HEART SPEAK. His photographs can be seen in his gallery - http://christopherwoods.zenfolio.com/
