8/30 2015

 VALEFOR

The Sixth Spirit is Valefor. He is a mighty Duke, and appeareth in the shape of a Lion with an Ass's Head, bellowing. He is a good Familiar, but tempteth them he is a familiar of to steal. He governeth 10 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, which is to be worn, whether thou wilt have him for a Familiar, or not.

In the military PX, my stepfather

in uniform, is flirting with the cashier

(not my mother)

he leans, casually against the counter

and is laughing (not his real laugh)

while his left hand is filling

his cargo pockets

with chocolate bars.

Here is a knife, I got it somewhere

here is a sword, a book on magic

here is a deck of tarot cards

a cow's skull, a black candle

He is climbing through the window

of the projection booth

of the shuttered theater

and I am carrying a flashlight

that dimly lights

the last spool of Rambo,

still in the projector,

the darkened house,

behind the screen, the storeroom

of old pornographic posters,

of projector bulbs

a leaf blower, assorted memorabilia

here is a guitar, I got it

out of the back of a truck

here are some records

here is Metal Hurlant,

Eerie, Creepie, Vampirella

here is a box of books

In the dark drawer, here is a pistol

here is a magazine, with a woman

bound, upside down

here is a bottle of whiskey

an ancient hit of blotter acid

Here is the backseat of the car

soaked in blood and the slow fat flies

here is a glass pipe, a broken lip

here is death, and death and death.