turn of the cards

spent two days stumbling away 
smoking the serpents out 
several minutes taken from the day
salmon swim but not the trout 
 red tied lies
opening wounds
teardrop sunrise
you try to stop 
  I receive signals from the emperor
the king of swords at hand
with schedules left unmade
and the men in the kitchen 
slaving for the starved 
 slept on the forest floor
the light casting through straw 
my wife at home 
freaking over the cat and dog
 souls want to stay put 
I haven't seen their faces
I'll slumber this evening
when she will still be on my side