a man in a mask says
“there is no certainty
only opportunity”
and i yank my bag
when the phone beeps,
so the cup falls to the
floor, the soda spills &
i am glad it was plastic
as i pick up the phone
and read his sms–
it is straightforward
like his gaze: asking me
if i have been allergic
to alcohol & could drink
tonight, so i reply
see you @9:30
i slide my right foot
on the sweet soda puddle
and then with a song
in his jukebox
vendetta dances with evey
in a perfect rapture &
i am happy

listen! tinkerbell angels sing &
a zillion lilliputian stars burst
into view–this must be a sign!

we have another chance!
let’s not waste it for cheap thrills
or trade it for a passing fancy

the temperature is rising like
smoke from the forest fire.
i’m down to 50 more days.

shall i light another candle
& start all over again?

one is on dialysis
one found love in japan
one became a mormon
missionary and
one is moving to sydney
trying to be a writer
trying to figure out
the best way to enunciate
to describe to you
what can happen
to the high school
rock & roll band

i know i
barely spoke
barely spoke at all
but i promise
i notice
every time
you speak

how our lives
are moving into
different directions

and i feel
so powerless
to halt the drift…

might wish to call in sick to work
because, you know what?

some days, the destabilizing politics,
the mongering manny pacquiao economy,
and the pathetic grandstanding in congress
are just a bit too much to take.

and time is needed
to just stare at the walls & blank pages
or stagnate on the couch like a freaking
government retiree

and let the pen dream on its own.