Hell in a Handbasket

 “…But somewhere here in between the city 
 walls of dyin' dreams, I think of death—
 it must be killin' me...” ---The Wallflowers

You are riding

In a white

Fifteen-passenger van

Sleeping between your

Two best friends

Riding through Richmond

On the interstate

Headed for Washington

Listening to tunes

Your sister drives

Other sisters ride

Your mom and

Your aunt too

Suddenly you are

In Northern Virginia

Seeing familiar buildings

On your left

Distracted by memories

Of fond days

In Washington DC

Then you look

To your right

And The Sniper

Raises his arms

Points his pistol

The van passes

You turn around

To a bang

Of silver explosion

Someone across the

Street lies dead

You freak out

Haunted by present

Dangers around you

Screaming bloody murder

Everyone get down

Soon you find

You and your

Family have unloaded

But soon you

Are back on

Board headed towards

The coastal waters

But wait… where

Is your mother

And her sister

How could you

All forget them

Life starts to

Royally suck for

All of you

But then to

Your great relief

Your mom and

Her favorite sister

Quite suddenly reappear