You both live here now

With the gravity of a page's silent plight
he's dragging his leg along
while his eyes are tracing the sidewalk
for trash and bottles and coins

you can tell he is talking
and in your language, too
by the rhythm of his lips-
quivering as he goes

but you don't hear a sound
except for the uproar
of a million minivans
speeding up and honking horns
as the traffic lights have turned
and the audience moves on.

title

drawing from exclusive sources
like walking aid applications
and food you don't need to chew
we will show you how to rely on
the help of people you despise
who will treat you like babies
and airheaded seashells
after a life of achievement
or at least wriggling-your-way-through.

they will change your diapers
cut your meat (and your mashed potatos, too)
ask painful questions they don't expect an answer to
and teach you to sit still and shut up and tremble and drool.

you don't know me yet

i'm just a voice in a line
and maybe in your head
and i'd like to keep it that way

but if you ever see a pretty girl
stamping down a field of flowers
too careless to look around

then i'll be the one
just sitting there
and watching her
and curiously witnessing
all the beauty disappear.
and you might see me frown.

I was so genuinely shocked,,,,

by the way the first lady
smiled on American Idol
(while disgracing all Africa
by telling shameless lies)
with the same milky, vacant eyes
as the brainwashed mothers and wives
who were passionately preaching
on the fairy tale lives
of their half-grown daughters
who had daddy's babies and daddy's eyes

,,,,,that i changed the channel
to watch the supernanny
taking away a little girl's pacifier
with a malevolent smile.
i turned the tv off and the radio on
and i listened for a moment to "been a son".