the trucks roar in the bayou
picking plastic to burn. painter's tape
fell off the walls so i got high to try
and finish a task. then my head starts
swirling. psychosis on the rise in my hood
burricane stirring up. it's easter time
i got a holiday cuz my work's so holy.
wanna light a cig and get jolly but the final
blast of canadian cold hit here yesterday so
i can't go outside to pressure
wash or nothing. i put down the tape
did i tell you i put down the tape
and it came unstuck. trimwork on hold
while i get this anxiety down. listen girl
you gotta kid. you can't afford those
mental health lapses. control yourself
i've seen you do it. one wrong decision
gets the next one started soon the avalanche
mows down everything you built. you know
how to stop it. just stop it. take a bath.
breathe. the daddy's family is so good
to your son. you need to take that and stay with it.
breathe. sleep. get up. go to work.
eat. sleep. breathe.
i got some painting to do.
*
outside,where the brushes are,
and the ashtray and abundance of fresh
air, outside the cold is not as bad
as i felt under my blankets
the day moves on. sun summer bright
even the neglected orchid blooms even
the norfolk pine sets forth a new top
even the mean teen next door begins
her caustic song. a little tape
falling off the wall is not an impediment
to clean white baseboards. so you make a mess?
clean it up. mistakes happen. leaves fall off
all the time. a cold wind rustles tree tops
but the trunk stands firm. be the tree.