the doom master, by Christopher Woods

holds the throttle

like a sword, smiling.

most teeth missing,

oh, and maybe a missing link,

he wants to execute someone,

has for weeks.

 

the dark carnival goes

town to rural Southern town,

with Midway in tow.

he is “The Tilt-O-Whirl” master,

making people cry out

in fear, sometimes in joy,

sometimes simply to vomit.

 

for so long it was enough,

till Gloria, “The Snake Girl,”

broke up with him.

he can’t kill her,

much as he wants to.

too many know about them.

 

so in every podunk hollow

he smiles his blank grin

and tries to decide which

young, happy couple in love

should be sacrificed.

 

his fingers are twitching.

he is aroused now.

each car is filled with young love.

he can taste the sex.

 

he lets loose the throttle

full speed, watches the cars

one by one

fly through the sky,

every thud a blessing.

~~~

BIO: Christopher Woods is a writer, teacher and photographer who lives in Texas. He has published a novel, THE DREAM PATCH, a prose collection, UNDER A RIVERBED SKY, and a book of stage monologues for actors, HEART SPEAK. His photographs can be seen in his gallery – http://christopherwoods.zenfolio.com/