Dead Man Walking
Dan Grote
A lifetime spent
working for too
much of not nearly
enough has left
me cold & all
the hot-air promises
of The Other Half
have my blood boiling,
a closed mouth won’t
get fed, but I’m
not crying because
I’m hungry, I’ve
eaten far too much
crow & swallowed
much too much of my
pride driven by an
appetite for the
destruction of every-
thing I have ever
built, so don’t give
me the third degree,
because nobody burns
bridges better than
me & I’ll leave
this life on the next
thing smoking if it
would make your world
a better place, but
until The Reaper
strikes his match
on my last cigarette
I’m good w/out
your blindfold &
I’ve no problem
finding a way to
leave w/out ever
saying goodbye.
Dan Grote is an incarcerated writer whose work has appeared widely in print and online. His latest poetry collection, "We Are All Doing Time" (Iniquity Press/Vendetta Books, 2023) is available from Amazon, and would look great on your bookshelf. Please contact him at: thedangrote@gmail.com!
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