man in the Hat

the man in the Hat goes looking
for trouble in garrulous lanes
if you see him, flee, run
away, as fast as you can
at ten paces he will swallow
your soul, your mind will follow
his clever machines invade
sanity’s high tower

where once was a well-kept
garden, grow nightmares, beautiful
nightmares, in black soil
beneath an always setting sun
painting dead shadows, still
frozen shadows, silently
etching death’s decree
on earth’s open palm

I told you to run, but you
drunken youth, sought
Fedoras in foreign taverns
where you drank his words until
a nameless illusion
next time, please, listen
to those who listened to
the man in the Hat