sunlight on the sidewalk, cold in the theatre

you're smoking outside when a woman

calls you in from the window

to say the lobby doors let in

the light

you apologize

blame the owner

go back outside

you watch the shadows drag

themselves across the road

like cats with broken legs 

collapsed lungs 

while the sun drowns 

behind the royal kebab and grill

you see the eyes of every body

that passes

you see the eyes of their crow heads

black no matter what and easily forgettable

and you think you've figured out what 

you are

not another species but different breed

the rusty laugh of death row

skin ready to turn to smoke

women rely on you for this

someone easy for them to quit

they figure maybe your eyes won't bother

to open

next time sun crosses over the bed

easy exit easy exit easy exit

easy exit

the street gets darker quieter quicker

the sun gone now entirely

cars breeze up the hill

into the funeral sky

the lights on the theatre marquee switch on

and across the road a neon sign 

with a few more breaths left in it