ice cube, shop tin roof
mourning’s inevitable
with dawn’s bastard sun
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025
ice cube, shop tin roof
mourning’s inevitable
with dawn’s bastard sun
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025
all the skeleta dansing
dansing in their skin shells again
in a world burning to the ground
stubbing their durry minds in
that ash bowl of hell they once called eden
would that you’d been a part of this
or would you have, given such souls
them resolute that turned their backs
on curiosity & knowing
three cheers to the danse
the pleasing aroma of reason charring
to the snuff of nothing above the clouds
all the skeleta dansing
a descent into backwards heights
the danse of flurried minds tonight
we’ll exist should they allow it
but don’t hold your breath
their masks full with empty fool heads
all hail the bliss of dullening
to themselves be the glory
to mine own the lost othered story
three cheers to the danse
the macabre aroma of reason charring
good that you’d not been part of this
in a garden of dimming lights & lost delights
how do they not concede the signs
all pointing away from their vaunted heaven
now, one more time
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025
i will always love you
mother, who carried me
it’s been a year since you’ve gone
i feel your smile lingering on
& i still don’t know why
you won’t let me lay down & cry
i miss you more now, it’s true
& still don’t know what i’m to do
guess i could pass your kindness on
instead of waiting for death erelong
for as long as i’ve left to live
i guess i’ll learn to let it be
‘don’t go near the frangipani tree’
this is what you would say to me
then i‘d try to be your good boy
won’t you let me cry now please
i never did learn to see you true
never did wonder if you felt rue
a lifetime of days before i was born
like petals fallen in the dawn
it feels like i hardly knew you
now i’m here too late… & waiting
& yet i will always love you
mother, who carried me
i miss you more each passing day
& now i find there’s less to say
with this vast space between us
i hope i was your good boy
‘don’t go near the frangipani tree’
this is what you would say to me
i don’t think your boy can smile any more
won’t somebody let me cry now please
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025
here between the seasons
the drought & hoped for rains
how on earth we prevail is
a puzzle for analytical minds
we try one smile on at a time
one smile at a time
to keep that sultry darkness at bay
one smile at a time
but perhaps today is not that day
mayhap i wish to sluttily lay
in disarray like i belong
& die erelong
but life goes on
while i whore myself to ruination
& smile along with the twee
their cock-a-hoop clarity in
hopes that we might cohabitate
in peace between drought & rain
& life goes on
one smile at a time
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025
are you the right hand of god
are you the hand left in darkness
well, never you mind, boy
be a man & do no harm
lay down your arms, boy
lay down your arms
bear your holly crown, boy
bear it with compassion for
your turn in the sun is nearly over
& soon i hope you’ll understand
that lust for legacy’s absurd
death & glory are just words
never you mind your pretty head
you could be dancing in the rain
just lay down your arms, boy
be a man & do no harm
lay down your arms
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025