I worry
I worry!
all of my friends and their hardships
Their brisk jogs through
terminating relationships
long shifts at jobs that don’t
give them time
to access whatever problems
they have
and reassemble themselves
they need rest
to dream
they ought to be allowed
to live those dreams
that should only be
unrealistic
if it’s been seen
in a movie
or read
on the back
of a napkin
used as a coaster
or cum wrag.
they need rest
personal sabbaths
sabbaticals
to give them time
to vanquish
all of their battles
deeming life
in a capitalist society
impossible.
when we were teenagers
we complained
and spoke of a life
that demanded less
need for us to estrange
ourselves from who
we actually were
and what we knew
we could actually do
given the appropriate amount
of rest
and dreams
and time
s
s
sl
sl
slo
slo
slow
slow
slow d
slow d
slow do
slow do
slow dow
slow dow
slow down
slow
down
s
l
o
w
d
o
w
n
slow down
we stopped everything
for the pledge of allegiance
when they were introducing algebra
we stopped everything
for prayer when we were hungry
we stopped everything
when the sirens started sounding
we stopped everything
when we were walking
for cars in a hurry
we stopped everything
we stopped everything
to pay our bills
to limit thrills
we have stopped everything
dropped everything
the mind doesn’t stop
the body wears
what if the magic 8 ball ever
answered any of our questions
about our fears
determining our expiration dates
would there be any change
in the structure
or would we remain
fracture filled
with seductive black bras
victoria secret catalogues
scraping the surface
of discussion
with sound bites ripped
from meaningless dialogue:
“Hello!”
“Hi!”
“How are you?”
“It’s raining cats and dogs.”
“Kris called in sick today. What a pussy.”
“My Brother is dying.”
“Could you pass me a lighter?”
“It’s in the kitchen.”
“Which cupboard?”
“To your left.”
“This way?”
“No!”
“Yes!”
“Would you like your receipt?”
“Is it a round trip?”
“Have you been watching the news?”
“I think Joseph gave me the flu.”
“No tax included.”
“I love that guy!”
“What’s your name again?”
“I can’t remember where I left it.”
“Makes sense.”
“That sucks.”
“That sucks.”
“That sucks.”
“That sucks.”
“Cool.”
