Sunset in Three Scenes

I

An angry young man out looking for trouble
Has shaved his whole round white head down to stubble
Above and below as before and behind
A braincase encasing a brain with no mind

II

A raven is watching me as if it knows
I am a cousin of Edgar Allan Poe's
A closer relationship than one might think
Which makes me think I think I see it wink
Which makes me blink to think this raven knows
Who is a cousin of Edgar Allan Poe's

III

All I have in my wallet is some nows of then
A fortune from a fortune cookie I saved when
I read it said life could be good and it would be
A picture of Gustav Mahler (looking like me)
A "miraculous" medal which so far has not
Suffered me to be captured or shot by a cop

Snaps of Mom and Grandma and what else have I got?

I see the Queen of Spades is still in exile where
The money might have been but at least she is there
Her journey would be over should mine slow to stop
But let her burn with me since I have learned from her
The things which we keep are the things which never were
Yet ARE (like that medal: "miraculous" ...so far)

+Steven Curtis Lance



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