'king time

once i saw a circus

made of toothpicks,

built by a man

with a lot of years

and toothpicks on his hands.

is that

the pit

that must be filled?

with words or chemicals?

with bodies, ball games, work.

art.

anything at all

in place of love.

other men made knives

from melted combs

or smuggled spoons.

swapped for lucky strikes

or favors. the anger

locked behind the bars

with seven books,

one thin pillow,

a mirror, a dream,

and extra underwear.

perhaps a space

for god.

right beside

the comic books

and dog-eared

dictionary.