poem of the day 07.09.13

all right

i

turn on my

r&B mix

it has music on it

that i’ve been

listening to

for longer than some drinking adults

have been alive

i

do this

to tune out

two screaming kids

and thoughts about the woman

who threw a library card in my face

first thing

this morning

and said

you should know me by now

as if that would offer her some kind of

courtesy or service

above the norm that i’m paid to give

i

listen to this music

as the bus stops at 13^th avenue

letting off two girls in short shorts

who don’t care if the world sees their asses or not

watch them laugh at men

who watch them

thinking all of the pretty young girls in brooklyn

get off at

13^th avenune

while i fondle my whiskey and wine bottles

hoping to put another night

in the record books

as mary j. blige coos in my ear

don’t you know you’re my sweet thing

a cover of a song

that might as well be her own by now

and in my heart

i’m dancing

with this day done

and only six avenues left

for this bus

to go