Halloween (again)

The havoc grin of cheshire moon -- that cat
sifting spotlight madness through gleaming teeth
so it drips heavy upon this midnight path
in puddles of oily rain that freeze my feet.
­­­­­­I splash across 14th Street glancing back
over my shoulder. She stretches out and yawns,
purrs an engine gust -- monoxide that
chokes my throat but somehow sickly warms
my frosted cheek and wet nose. There she leaps --
skyscrape-dodging grin of lunatic grace.
Behind me, above the trafficlights she keeps
up, tailing at a whisker's pace.
She stalks me with a smile I disbelieve,
her cheshire grin a mask to me, deceived.




This was recorded to cassette, very late at night, or very early in the morning, in the Bronx, in 1988 or 1989. King Me is singing, and I'm playing guitar. The music was completely improvised from the written lyrics. We tried this song with Here Are The Facts You Requested once, but just could not recapture the feel. Landscape and Vincent were written during the same session, and translated much better to the band. As quiet and hissy as this track is, I still love the mystery and exuberance in King Me's voice, even when he is just meowing. The poem is, by the way, a sonnet.