Of Water, Woodpulp, and Glue

 A headless man

walked outside 

my window

A nameless man

walked

to the river


I walk

between buldings


A patrol car rolled

through the parking lot

quiet

the birds made more noise

and they were nearly silent


I walk between buildings


The patrol car

disappears

the officer 

decides

nothing to see here


a modest presumption

 

Now

All but two

of us

hidden away

behind green doors

they all match in

the apartment

complex


A fat man sits 

in a pool

of patio

light

reading

(inside of a dog it's too dark to read)

I steal a punchline 

smile and walk

so am I so am I so

with each new step


He is surrounded by 

green tomatoes

the plants in their pots 

don't mind

and niether do I

We do not speak

the stolen punch line

exists only in my mind

I imagine him

shouting:


STOP SETTING THE

WORLD ON FIRE!


I continue my

stroll

the evening air

humid tastes

of water

woodpulp and glue


(rising particulates and Canadian smoke)


I am

glad the

officer

in the patrol car

rolled through


no doubt

keeping the

peace.



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