Black Angels

After Max Payne

You aren't going to kick me--
red slip dress--
out of your walk-up railroad.
After what happened at the Roscoe stop--
the watch falling in the restroom--
the silence of his partner.

Don't let it be the black angels.

You aren't going to believe this.
When they told you I was dead
you said you had gotten off six shots
and were the prime suspect
though the alleys are full of allies
with tails, claws, no alibis.

Don't let it be the black angels.

I hope you know you can always
call me. The bright lights needed fixing
and they did (him, his partner).
She liked art, right? Alexander Calder
invented the mobile. The babies
cried anyway.

Don't let it be the black angels.