Herbert’s homicide, or Margaret’s painting

I died playing a game

didn’t I, Margaret?

gameboards without borders

Margaret’s clues collide

dirty nights and party slights

is Herbert’s homicide

my wounds float on fire

bars on her windows

and I’m wrapped in barbwire

the warning signs were juxtaposed

hidden by desire

to the bed frame from the sink

9 times 9 is S and L Suzy

what was in that little drink?

I’m feeling kinda woozy

3 hours earlier—

“Turn the lamp on, Suzy girl

it’s too dark in here”

“Sure, baby and could you

take off my necklace, please?”

I roll the dice and move nine spaces

but I don’t get the square I need

“Your new glasses are cool, are they prescription?”

she looks up from a cherry juicy

“No, but don’t they look sexy?” she says

I nod and say, “absolutely”

I don’t feel so good and her faucet drips

something smells like pine trees

she’s acting different tonight

these shadows make me uncomfortable

the game progresses—

or should I say

it diverges and digresses

“Herb, why did you cheat?” she says

I stutter a stupid “what?” with dread

I roll the dice and deny out of habit

but she sees that my face is turning red

bloody drops on my little blue rabbit

some surreal game is in her head

I get snakes, she’s got the ladders

I’m going down; I made my bed

that faucet drips deception

her eyeglasses have no function

I’d need a map to navigate

the forest of her intention

am I a pawn or a knight

in this Snakes and Ladders sink?

I can’t read her signs tonight

“What’d you put in my drink?”

lights out; game over, right?

I wake in this cold space

Suzy stands over me with leather gauntlets

seeking sympathy through sexy glasses

“I’ll miss our little games, Herbert”

infidelity is a game of chance

you play, you might pay with your life

or, at the least, you lose your pants

me? she got me with a knife

drugged, tortured and shredded

her faith on which I treaded

strapped to this bed frame and barbwired

her faith and I now departed

I’m dead; I’m dead; I’m dead