Macbeth, King of West End, North Carolina, Reflects on His Life Choices

Malachi Ray Adkins

Perhaps I shouldn’t have listened
to the witches on the corner,
taunting me with my future.

            Put your palms out.
            Look deep in my crystal ball.
            Stir my cauldron.
            Pick a card.
            Not
            that card.

            Spiders will divine your death.
            Beware those born of a caesarean section.
            or those with a knife,
            a .22,
            the will to live.

            Beware those who breathe and eat and drink
            Heed my words or pay the price.
            How?
            That is for you.