Ways
people get stuck
in the ways
in the passenger seat
the front row
the bedding
the cell
the shoes
the grave
the height of pleasure
brewed and burned
that full feeling
nuked and trashed
the depth of denial
coursing through
the weathervane
‘cause you go to work
and do your job
and pay your bills
and sign your name
and give a dime
and sit in church
and laugh on cue
and go to that thing
and hold that door
and nod your head
and throw that ball
and light that wick
and cook that meal
and run that race
and net that fish
and cut the grass
and sift the sand
and bring the flowers
and walk the dog
and bake the cake
and paint the fence
and nail the roof
and bang the drums
and clear the clutter
and save the book
and take the train
and turn the blind
and lift the cup
and light the stick
and shoot it up
and make a mess
and fix your face
and set the timer
and straighten your tie
and wave goodbye
and board the plane
and close your eyes
and walk the aisle
and sit in that chair
and say you’ll be back
and fall off the cliff
and get hit by the bus
and blown away on the plane
and shot by a stranger
and run over by bulls
and sunk by a ship
and taken hostage
and beheaded
and left for dead
boxed or burned
on the return
go stand in the mirror
under the sting
and wipe the film
make like you see
whatever works
TL