The Shadow

Everywhere

in the vast night

men are strangling wives

and daughters bleed out

in the boot

of a Ford Aspire

Everywhere

men with boiling eyes

their stale bodies bristling

their tongues blood-soaked

grab through

half-rolled car windows

at the women who loved them

and howl

Everywhere

in the shuttered interiors

of factory towns

stunted lads with Xboxes

Google creampie anal

jerk off to pixels

and inherit the Earth

In her little sedan

on Parking Level 4

Kathleen knows she needs to be firm.

Ryan’s toxic,

lost his job six weeks ago.

He frightens her.

As she fetches her keys from her bag,

she hears footsteps.