they say it’s healing and relaxing
apparently I got into this mess
by being unable to relax
but it seems to be borne
of that dead space in the cosmos
the one occupied by birdbaths
lawn chairs and scale figures
appearance of feeling not actual heart
why fill in the background
there are noises galore
toilet flush
refrigerator hum
car backfire
creaks and cracks as the house hunkers down
taste has never been my strong point
showtunes
motown
the shoop shoop song sung
by girl groups in beehives
and leatherette minis
these give me reason to live
and live I do
in the same perhaps more rent
and dogeared skin as before
not so much refine as distilled