6:23 AM
My reflection stares
Recommended for you
brushing his teeth. His eyes,
city maps, roads trace
red from outskirts to
center. His hair rockets
To the left en masse:
He looks awful. The lock
won’t turn without some force.
7:48 AM
The world smells
in the morning. Dewed grass cut
Cut the night before, breakfast
seeps through open windows: bacon,
Eggs, brief scents of leftovers.
I don’t look at the others, but watch
my shadow crawl with theirs.
There are more of us today.
1:29 PM
It starts again after lunch
with the keyboards’
percussion, then the phones’
incessant rings join.
The beeps and squeals
From printers
Introduce harmony to complete
The music responsible for my skull’s
Constant attempts to split.
The band refuses to stay in time
With the clock’s metronome ticks
counting down the beats
Until the final measure at six.
6:09 PM
My mind goes silent
With the quiet chirps
on the street.
Shadows only bother to mingle
When I pass under a lamp or
A car drives by.
Only for a second.
11:10 PM
I watch my reflection
wash his face. His eyes follow
mine as I trace his stubble, too long
to seem purposeful. He shrugs,
walks away.
In bed, I watch
the ceiling and wonder
if he can’t sleep either.
