The Shopkeeper

A poem of lonliness and deception

The shopkeeper’s eyes gleam bright
Late night
Feels right
Can’t fight
And you enter the store blindly

First you see a chair
One chair
Just one
A light shines
You are alone

The shopkeeper’s voice rings out
Near shout
“This route!”
“This route!”
And you look eagerly toward the chair

Sitting down you realize
One chair
No more
Just one
You ask
“Tell me which way to go”

The shopkeeper’s smile grins wide
Can’t hide
Thrill ride
He lied
Your head starts spinning
Heart starts pounding
Ears start ringing
You start falling

The shopkeeper watches in disgust
Laughs soft
Foul lust
Makes dust
Your ashes lie at his feet
He sweeps you up
Tosses you to the sea
And mails the empty bottle home
You’re gone.