woke up this evening
with hyenas in my living room
smoking seventy cent cigars
and drinking bacardi

i took one aside and asked
what the plan was for the night
i was, of course, just asking them
to leave

meanwhile i hear one of them screaming
and waving his stupid sword around
while the air conditioner hides
the song of a mouse dying in the wall

i wave off the conversation
all i ever get is wide open eyes and compliments
but no fear or obedience

i crash down into a half broken chair:
a king that's lost the will and ability to rule over his land