they've got you licked

there is no real fear in darkness
like a boogieman breathing radon
into the lungs of treasured infants

mistakes and evil plans come together
over me and you in places like work
and the elevator at the mall

slipping on the sidewalk before christmas
you were sure no one was looking
except you died with 1/8th of a second of laughter in your ears

posthumously decorated like every other corpse
minus the whipped topping and tears of loved ones
you watched the flames at your toes imbibing their fetish

finally, the expectation met the fear
breaking every tradition held by people
since man's creation of god

sleep well,
lie still,
unthink
unbelieve
die happy