2 blocks

2 blocks it took me to realize
How inconvenient it has been
For me
To be me

2 blocks from the train I walked
Pass the playground and
The brown buildings
And I hated it all

I had never lost my temper
In public
Keen to the eyes that can judge you
Even from the quiet whisper

2 blocks it took me to be late
For a 6 o'clock meet

I had one of those
Days that never seemed to end
And I never apologized for
Being imperfect

2 blocks, I strolled and enjoyed
The few rays of sunshine
That beemed through my eye lids
The same sun that holds my neck
In a tight grip

Should I have apologize for lackin
Punctuality?
When I myself consider that
As a true virtue in society?

2 blocks it took me to realize
Why I'm me

unsatisfied, unwilling, unreliable and
unforgiving

I will not apologize and I will not sulk
And curse you for I am me.
I was an inconvenience only
To myself.

For you it was unfortunate.
I knew I was running late.

The poet

Ahh the poet, eager to show you the world
through his words and ideas.
Center of attention, just whenever he can get an audience.

Ahh the poet, slick mouthed, soulful, full of love and full of life.
Then there are those depressed as shit and drink all night.

Ahh the poet, but to no one in particular. I observe quietly in the back row.
Tryin to hold my applause or seize my cough
at the wrong moment.

I keep my mind and my ears open, but sometimes honestly I don't know What the hell ya’ll talking ‘bout.
I can hear the whiplash as you punch the audience with Lines as they gasp and clench their heart and say "ooooh,"
I'm in the back row, and I haven't got a clue.

Veterans and well known voices exchange gestures and laughs between stanza 3 and 4. The audience politely laughs and scream "yeah!" (Suckers who paid 10 bucks at the door.)
For what? To hear a bunch of pros, well spoken and eloquent with their rhymes and dialogues and jokes, while singing the same song they've sung before?
The scene when you look from the outside seems really intimidating.
You gotta have the wits and the snaps to roll with these peeps.
At least studied some books or ran through a few poems by famous authors.
Recited or written a few of your own, or given "roses are red violets are blue" to someone.
I'm not a critic and I'm not hating.
I observe all and feel like I'm with it.
If I don't know something I’ll elbow whoever
Is next to me and just pretend
I'm with it like, "wow!" Did you hear what he said?
Still no clue.

I'm not quick.
My mind runs at a certain pace that maybe some of ya’ll are too fast for.
I pace myself and breathe.
I try to have faith I try to believe.
To me it’s all new. I sit quietly in the back row. Trying to hold my applause and seize my cough. Why?
Because
I'm just waiting for my chance to go up.

so pretty

You look damn cute when you’re intoxicated
Is it a crime if I said this while I’m inebriated?
You have this sort of smile slash grin
I’m impressed and all the while ashamed
Time and time again.
I already know what you’ll say when I approach
“Hey you,” laughing it off with your lip stick smeared.
The whiff off of that vodka and juice
Made it easier for me to interlude
Swiftly
Words are exchanged we converse and arrange
A rendezvous at the nearest phone booth
At the stall
At the wall
We fell in love as we fell on the floor.
Lord knows my intentions are clear.
Or is it?
My friends Jack, Jose and Johnnie
Told me to do the right thing.
I’ll think about it but my head is bulging.

coffee shop scene

Hat slinging back the jet black

Hair smile peering through

Glass windows

Small puff with the long

Inhale of smoke

Tapping

The side of chamomile or chai

The aroma peers through the

Glass windows

Shift of tides a wave of dark mast

Erode the sands and prolong

The Inevitable

A breeze rolls through the

Glass windows

Time for the bill

Time for the crosswalk

Time to close the doors

And close the

Glass windows