eating out

last week, instead of wasting time on cooking
I took my demons out for dinner
the place was called "pieces"

the demons showed no interest
in the fancy menu, instead
they started out with what was more
familiar

one reached right beneath my ribcage

the other poked at my sore eye
(the eye was sore from looking
at things
to see
no change
in the long run)

the next one tore
a mouthful
off my left calf

another had delight
in my fingertips

the last one insisted on
my brain

eventually
they all fell asleep
their heavy heads
rested on the tables

with an ax from the kitchen,
with a borrowed knife
I could have cut them off
one after another
could've watched the heads
rolling on the floor

instead I opened them up
and drank the dreams
till the last nightmare
became mine

***
healty diets are good
for healthy people

for too long a-time
I've fed on fear,
I have grown addicted
to my daily portions

calm might appear lethal
to my digestive system

***
before I went home
I called my demons
by their first names

waken up
they walked behind me
like obedient dogs