sprung

at times i see the rest of my life lined along
like a snowy lane on a cloudy day unswerving but uncertain
mixed rock salts
stuck in wheel wells and stained hubs twirling like mad around
crusts of grease clinging to the steaming breast of that
beastly machinery heaving its guts and dodging
potholes

the scents of lonely hearts whittling bits into the wind
rhyming with the whistlin' wintertime
frosts fingers and ears with bits of cold
thoughts caught in throats under murmurs
i've heard

gleam blank eyes singing lights glanced off cold retinas
steel hard and open wide despite all limits
seethe holes breathing smoke obscures empty space surrounding air
debonair golden and unblinking sloping lashes unwavering
glimpses raw and toned sliding hugging curves around the outside and meeting in the back
hands on their hips urged earned and heard of
dismissed expanded diminished and unblemished
burned thanks hands ashed and dusted off
hair smoked and crisped twisted and tied
flicks of the wrist restrained and perspired