Warmed blanket from a quick

tossing of heated air

two little yellow pills

washed down with a shot

of anything-

he wonders why I sleep so much.

Slit eyes in the sunlight

beaming from the bent aluminum

the buzzing sounds too loud

first a slight touch

then a pound

little black box is quiet now.

Lids pressed to a colored world

hazy picture of a movie star

and lottery tickets

laughter and love

music so sweet

fireworks so loud.

Black box is screaming

silver screen dreams

are through

Eyes wiped clean of that morning glue

Four white walls

and a dress two sizes too small.

Traffic too thick

for my one mile ride

green turns to red

sardine can parking lot

woodpeckered doors

the worst parking spot

11th floor, elevator’s dead.

Secretary’s desk

dejavue paycheck in blue

gopher in a black dress

missed the cut-off for the seniority line

three years of post-high school

what else could she do.

Green, red, green, red

a few turns and the color blue

I’m stumbling to my holding tank

waiting for the black box to shout

ax held over my head until

it rolls off, eyes wide open and mouth dropped.

And I look over at you.

And I look over at you.

And he wonders why I sleep so much.