Leaving No Trace

The chasing of a dog,
In black and white,
By the docks at night,
As a snake slithers in fright
Is on the news all day and night.

The cat stands by the window,
From which shivering,frozen trees,
Wet with snow and darkness
Will have no sun to see.

A black wolf howls--
An empty promise bellows.
The moon drips with blood
Down bony elbows.

A scarlet sky: blood red
Overcasts the church today.
A priest stands smoking
On his unlit cigarette.

The unlit dreams of mothers
With crying sons in bed
Dying for affection
With a bandaged, cut-up head.

The doctor wants surgery
But the victim cries "no!"
"Let me die, right here"
"Right now"
"Let this pain go!"

Blue rain streams down
And slithers down my face.
I hope not to drown..
Dying, leaving no trace.