...with 'just' as a limiter, as always, too often.

that kid who chased his dog in the snowy darkness
between his front yard and the street
holding up his schoolbus and a line of traffic
for ten minutes monday morning:
the bravest man ever to traverse route 94
and he's too young for a driver's license...

a swift kick to the shin.
a night-stick behind the knee.
bam.
you're done
for the nth time now.

gepetto was bounding across the road
as she approached through cigarette smoke
until a redneck snapped me out of it.
later on i almost bought a bumper
with a white neck-craner
realizing we're ours forever.
i've been scared to say that, but it's true.

stop it
we were kids
we were only kids
so stop it.
it only makes sense
if you imagine saying it
to someone or something
bigger than yourself.
no.
it only makes sense
to me
and
that's just dandy
just fine
alright?

all those poor souls
who used to watch me shave at night...

see, that kid chasing the dog--
i envy him.