Lions and Seals

Me
New York, 1924
Standing on a snowy street
Chaos

Scoffing
Gagging
Puking

Blue-faced
Jet-lagged

Blurs of jade and silver pass by
Accompanied by dainty fingers
Smoke burns my eyes
Harsh newspapers dirty my fingers

Headline: CONSECTETUR ADIPISCING ELIT
Byline: Cicero
Dateline: Forgotten
Go to hell, Father

Rewind
1908, ten-years-old
Pulling wood splinters
From floorboards
Waiting for Father
Suddenly eleven, then twelve
Going on twenty-six

All that’s left
Is the time remnant
And my bloody fingers

Cut forward, present
Car zooms by
Almost hitting me
Why didn’t I step forward

Realize I’m not sure
Of the month
The day
Even the year eludes me

I know the moon is high
The sun nonexistent
Just continuous clockwork

Tom, the lover
Edward, the salesman
Will, the orphan

Who will I be today

Whoever I am
I walk past windows
Mannequins sit at dinner tables

Divided and mocking

Puppeteer in control
Everyone screaming
Deep into the hole
Of my little metal toy

But no one’s complaining
I’m smiling
Yes, I’m smiling