Fear is Late, by Max Lemuz

Masks Confronting Death by James Ensor (1888), Belgium.

Fear is Late
 
and in his absence sink
the eyes into white shawls
 
and in his absence sink
their eyes into day hats
 
that used to be a crown
of bones that he would throw
 
that used to be a crown
but is a coxcomb that blends
 
into backgrounds of eyes
that watch but should be watched
 
into backgrounds of eyes
rimmed, happy, glaring.

Max Lemuz
​
Max Lemuz is a Mexican-American who recently graduated from California State University, San Bernardino with a B.A. in English.  He tutors foster youth full-time and writes poetry in his head all the time.  He spends his weekends with his amazing wife and daughter in San Bernardino.  He has been recently published in SoFloPoJo, Scarlet Leaf Review, and Triggerfish Critical Review.