Wave

I know you know I haven't

loved you.

I always figured

I'd hate you when

these days

came

thought I'd be enraged

to some kind of point

involving knives

blood

mine of course

relax

would you.

but I do have to tell you he didn't crack

a smile

that I could see

but with tender

seriousness

he met my inquiry

with a nearly scientific

reply

oh baby,

oh sugar.

here, let's try this trick with

mirrors

flicks

fingers

shadows

or just watching you

stand still.

But instead I feel

nothing

no time for any

revelations about

us.

out of the corner of

my eye

I saw a young corporal

plugging

the jukebox

out of the corner of my eye

I saw them order my next

one a

double

I swayed

and was caught

and held

in uniform

in unison the union took me deep

into the current

where only the most noble

surfers

venture

in the middle

of the pier

at oceanside

not heeding the warnings

on the loud

speakers:

please catch the next wave

and ride your board to shore

everything I own fits

in ten boxes

ten

envelopes, ten

disks.

I guess I had to be told

again

that nobody deserves

that.

1999