poem of the day 08.03.15

greetings and solicitations

from new york, new york

there is no friendly way to be

when you’ve worked six days straight

one day off and then another four on

with no air conditioning in the place

sweating where you stand

answering the questions and concerns

of the public at large

yelling at children

making sure the local pederasts aren’t jacking it in the john

there is only peace and patience

a willingness and desire to pass through the day

untethered to conversation

and the problems of every other man

but living this way would require staying forever indoors

the lights off and the a/c blasting

foil on the windows like a poor man’s elvis presley

besides i’m hungry for northwestern chinese noodles

hand pulled covered in cumin and red chili sauce

there is no other way for me to be

except here with you right now

slurping noodles fumbling with chopsticks

my big bulk on a small wooden stool

principally made for twelve year old chinese girls to sit on

forgetting that we work for a living anyway

the skies the limit, this day being ours instead of theirs

we’ve already seen great cinema

so who knows what lies ahead?

and that’s why when he saddles up next me

pink slips of paper in his hand

asking if we want to donate some cash for his hoops squad

i have no other kindnesses to give

there is nothing else for me to do

except stay silent smile mouth full of noodles

the next round dangling dubiously on my chopsticks

shake my head no to the solicitation

like a man who only wants to live his life

like waves drifting back into still water in the vast green ocean

at him saying, aw, man, i hope y’all get food poisoning

before stomping out into the heat of st. mark’s place

lanky head-of-hair whooshing little wandering

capitalist, fascist, opportunist satan that he is

hell bent on chasing down the next poor fool

to try making him beg for his solace too.