most days
the world at large
for me
can be summed up
with two separate
time zones

pre-dawn promises
in which
all offers
for my soul
will be considered
for the right deal

and after she wakes up
to be reminded
that my soul
isn’t mine to offer
no matter how
tempting the trade

so i’ve taken to
taunting
the demons
as i sip coffee
listening while
the mockingbird sings

knowing there
is nothing
they can offer
that sounds half
as good as the things
she whispers