I screamed out in frustration
at the layers of bureaucracy
impeding my path.
Only to realize
the more I screamed
the more the man with horn-rimmed glasses
sitting at his sterile desk
punching numbers on a screen
tuned me out.
“Maybe I could work faster,
or harder,
or more efficiently,”
I questioned.
I saw the future-
fast cars,
women,
supermodel dates, and caviar.
That day after work
I ran as I always
do.
Six miles of sweat, bikinis, and
a pounding heart
brought me back
to the place I belong within myself-
away from the noise of orders
and heat of expectations.
I let the woman I love know
I would be home soon
and to feed the dog.
Thirsty as hell
I entered the drive thru at 7:30 p.m.
and noticed an elderly man with a cap
sweeping leaves between lanes of pavement.
Perfectly happy,
perfectly calm,
and completely engaged
in his work,
beholden only to the wind
he reminded me of placid lake water
on a summer morning.
The Bird's Song 