By The Guppy
Date: 9 July 1999

asphalt and me

just discovered that i'm nothing more than a discount convenience lover
guess we all have our roles to play...games to play...prices to pay
words to say...
guess it doesn't matter much
to be a crutch...a provider of a needed touch
guess it wouldn't bother me...
'cept that my reflection is throwing me an uppercut
'cept that my self-proclaimed soulmate has made malt-o-meal out of my dignity
'cept that my feet are now frozen to the scorching blacktop...
one-way deadend highway with speed bumps, potholes, and no parking at any time
it's a funny thing to see me here
on the outskirts
can't wait for the next time
find another veiled porcupine
find another loud-mouthed mime lighthouse attendant/pirate queen
rapidly developing a chronic allergy to the words "never/forever"
really the same word...just depends on which way the wind is whipping
always is in there too
should really just issue people licenses to use those words
like make 'em drive down a one-way deadend highway with no parking at any time
it's a funny thing
can't say i've been here before
not this stretch of road
seems to be more and more squashed toads...and opossums...and raccoons..
and a few gold dubloons that some pre-tense pirate queen must have left here
and a whole pile of punctured tires with porcupine quills poking out from them
just got me
me and my supercharged tricycle complete with streamers on the handlebars...
a little ringy noise-making thing...
and rusty training wheels...doesn't make sense to me either
who needs training wheels on a tricycle?
i'm a big boy
then there's that boxer dude reflection of mine that makes me think maybe i'm not