She was a leatherback

She was a leatherback

He had alligator skin

They drank gin

Like snake oil

In the corner

Gazing out at the room

With a hunger

Afraid of my fate

If they reeled me in

Some called it charisma

Others were better informed

I was just

Like all the other sleepy hollows

Barely awake

But with no welcome home

We carried our sorrows

In backpacks

Easy pickings

Even through the haze

Of defeat

Where skinny people stood

Wearing smooth silk creams

And screens

Slicked in moonbeams

The sheen of youth

Already exposed

Turning grey as the night wore on

Wildness in their smiles

If they only knew

What lay inside

They would queue

To go the other way

But hey

We were all young once

And I was still waiting

For the other shoe

To fall

As I turned away

From two desperadoes

Performing

Hardrock

Against the wall

Deciding it was time to go

Before I fell victim

To the unease

And the sour taste

Of the breeze

Brought me to my knees.