The Second Motel I Passed Poem by Timothy Venard

-room one
Occupied.
Do not disturb.

A piercing scream
A muffled shout
The crack of flesh on flesh.
And a sob,
A hopeless, pathetic sob,
Like a the wail
Of a cornered dog.

-room two.
Occupied
Do not disturb

You can hear children crying
Hear the mothers sigh.
‘oh he hit me’
‘no I didn’t’
The endless drone
Like a chicken pen

-room four
Occupied
Do not disturb

A whimper is heard
A grown man
Of at least 35.
Cry pause cry.
Cry gulp cry.
Time to move on,
The sound is sadder than a wolfs lonely cry.

Room five

Do not disturb.

Nothing.