Pig Mask

I sat in the empty hall, stone white corridor running down--

drawing a limitless face (why limitless? Am I having you on?)

The edge of the pencil

blended smoke and ash

into the shadowed features,

As, beyond, I caught the One in the Pig Mask staring

at me, resplendent in his white, pristine lab coat

That reached down to the icy floor.

Beyond,

children isolated in the gloom spilled

greasy water, slicked with rainbow

miasma of poison, onto the bare white marble.

And in this instant,

I realized that pushing my art supplies,

up the ladder,

made little sense.

I was never going to get up there with Anne,

Who had already climbed the stairs.

Above, the staff kept frying meat

for the hungry beast

and I wondered.