here a small boy dangled
from frayed rope and blood-less hands

pick your teeth with this message
it won't get better any time soon
the sun only rises to remind you that darkness is only so far away
or maybe the snow falls to remind you that warmth is always only so far

just like the ice cracks under your weight to remind you of your presence

I felt my mind fall loose from its cracked cradle
it landed somewhere amidst tramping feet and those cracks in the ice
I only heard it squeal once

my face reminds me of time
naught of age but of reminders
calls to self anger

dance nimbly aside jack
for the box you wished upon has longer damning effects
than you ever knew

cobwebs got caught under my tongue
wrapped up my words
and stuck them to the clouds
no one ever truly understands
when you mumble and choke
well at least most folk

dance quickly aside
loquaciously tongue twisting moments aside
I prefer to let my liquor do the talking for me
my comrades tend to understand me better then
and refrain from scoffing and incredulous glances

let good ol' cap't Morgan
twist that blade a little deeper
oh wait
this is one of those times when you forget
you hold the handle
and you tend to twist to temporarily transcend normal thinking...
about happy things
like birthdays your family was there for
and graduations your family attended with pride

don't let the vibrato that flows from this twisted tongue fool you
illustrious moments have defined me
ohh... the irony
shades and shadows defining a child's life
are very often a pedagogy for quandries ahead
or often ensnare and devour

step lively now jack
that is one hefty box to avoid.