• She can hear e v e r y f l a k e f a l l
    outside
    b a n n e d f r o m h e r o w n w a l l s
    nowhere to hide but
    her m i n d
    The past c l i n g s to her body
    ...d
    ........r
    ............i
    ...............p
    ...................s
    ........................f r o m h e r s o u l
    o u t o f c o n t r o l
    she reaches for sanity.
    On the streets she finds
    b u m s
    children
    bottles
    c a n s
    She can return them for dimes at
    the local     Grocery Store.
    Where are your children?
    Where is your husband?
    W h y d i d t h e y c h a n g e t h e l o c k s
    throw away the key
    force you to leave?
    What secret torture did you inflict
    to deserve such just punishment?
    Lucidity fades, and a man
    ..................r..........i............n...................g...................s his bell for coins
    ........each
    .............plink
    ........................says
    ....................................stop
    ..................................................be
    ............................................................ing
    ........................................................................so
    ....................................................................................de
    ..................................................................................................pen
    ..............................................................................................................dent
    and the man says
    m e r r y c h r i s t m a s