By the guppy
Date: 5 August 2000
rather liquid
coasting on autopilot
the sidewalk seems to catch my dreams
they drizzle down to fill the cracks
a bandage for my mother's back
spacing out my measured steps
stumbling in circles to regret
welcome back, my concrete friend
i'll shake any hand that you can lend
let's not fight over coffee tonight
let's not even think about the waitress
she smiles for tips
she serves us toast
she cleans it up
she throws it out
she never expects to be written about
i don't really feel like being surprising at the moment
i feel like blending in
walking home
whisting taps
making up sidewalk raps
swearing barely audibly
at my sheets, when their lonely folds surround me
crumpling up another 8 1/2" X 11" holster for my nightmares
they canter off
they whinny
they stub their hooves on me
they trip on dignity
they drown in half-filled sidewalk cracks
just one of those nights
when you age ten years because of complicated smiles
with any luck, i'll wake up with a diaper on
and a pacifier strung around my neck
an angel with a gigantic safety pin
smiling down at me again
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