Honing

Sharpen your knives
Clutch them close
Tuck them into each pocket
Because someone is coming
And it isn't quietly

They're saying your name
From inside the darkness
You know it's you they want

If you're lucky
The fight will be quick
And clean
You won't slip and slide
As your blood mixes
On the old tile floor
Leaks into the fissures

"It will never come out"
The old lady says
as she clucks her tongue
and scrubs on hands and arthritic knees
A lock of hair slipping from her braid in her vigor
The smell of pennies and bleach in her nostrils

But you will spare her the trouble
Because you've sharpened your knives
And you know where to aim
Inflicting the most damage
With the least mess
Quick and efficient
Just like daddy taught you
When he gave you your first blade
And a whetstone
Prizing his gifted diamonds rough
Over sparkling
You blew out the candles
Made a wish
From inside the darkness
This wasn't what you wished for
Must have been because it took two breaths