Commercials of Army Reserves
flash upon
a static filled
tv screen
segueing into
an Exxon Supreme
commercial
You sit back waiting for the
next commercial
to tell you
what you need
for happiness
or how to better your life
what you can’t
afford to miss
or how you’ll be able
to relieve pain
You’re sitting back sad about
destiny
and broken affairs
unsettled goals
nagging self doubts
an oversized belly hangs over
your waist
feet sweet profusely
in an old smelly pair of slippers
you don’t even
like to wear
but put on anyway
out of force of habit
At least the Flyers won
you tell yourself
but it doesn’t
really make much difference
Your dog paces back & forth;
scratching fleas
whining for food;
a cat coolly staring indifferent
to your very existence
or any futile dreams you might
cling onto desperately
but in all you still feel
an urge
to laugh aloud
and hug Rimbaud
and Van Gogh
in spite
of their melancholic
pessimism
that you were almost
dumb enough to buy
October 17. 1987