recycle bins on the hit

 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.