Jack is Back

the Green River killings pale in comparison
to the new beast that crawls the darkness
along the Mardi Gras river-side 
pervasive drunkenness provides easy targets
and drinking blurs so many memories
signs are missed, but the missing are not
cries of pain are unheard over the gaiety
or are taken for screams of laughter amid the din
when the assaults begin to be discovered
the purple, green, and gold shades found 
will show this attacker is unhurried in his work
he has mastered his desire for slow pain
for all he is hot with sweat and sour smells
the first body bears silent witness to the beast
the pale belly splits to reveal a vagina heavy with blood
and the cool winds become thick with fear
the frightened city roils with tension
still he does not have far to seek
willing victims surround him in the endless night


c. 3/9/09, B. Riley