The Twin Terrors By Jon Bennett

Loneliness and exhaustion

are the twin terrors

of middle age

although I’ve been tired

since 7^th grade

and when not tired

I’ve been poor

(poverty has always been

the price of sleep)

But lately, loneliness is worse

feeling like a hone stone

on a dwindling blade

I buy dope as a prophylactic

sometimes it works

I’m frightened of sobriety

the solitary hours

in front of the TV

the relentless

mornings.

Jon Bennett writes and plays music in San Francisco.