poem of the day 02.20.15

a most elegant man

a most elegant man is walking behind me

on this cold-as-hell winter morning

he’s got a little snow cap with ear flaps

a thin scarf and a big red beard

he’s keeping pace so that he’s right up my ass

and when i stop on the street, he stops

in new york city this is grounds to commit a murder

but it’s maybe five degrees outside

the wind off the estuary making it worse

i’m carrying ten bags of groceries

five in each hand

and i forgot my goddamned gloves

my fingers look like strands of red pulp

so i couldn’t strangle this man if i wanted to

the guy behind me, he’s got one little bag

and his cell phone

i wish he’d kick it into gear

just pass me or something

when i stop to let him go

he stops to check something on his phone

the wind goes through me like i’m made

of plastic grocery bags

i look back and say, hey, buddy, what the fuck?

but he’s got his earbuds in

i start up again

he starts up again

i can see the apartment building

but it still feels a million miles away

with the wind and this asshole keeping pace

when i get to the door

it makes sense that he lives in the building too

six floors of strangers

living petty little lives

i put the five bags from the one hand in the other

struggle to get out my keys

while the most elegant man waits patiently

for me to unlock the door

i even hold it for him

ten bags and swollen red hands

a smile on my face and murder in my eyes

as the most elegant man passes me

with nary a head nod

or a discreet thank you to boot.