it was good to be alive, he knew
but it wasn't that big a deal
- earl thompson
say you wake up and your mouth tastes burnt
it is like your tongue has a sense of smell
all of your muscles are tense and hurting
and the sides of your head
just above your ears
have been smeared with something
that feels like vaseline
this is a confusing way
in which to greet the morning
but say it isn't morning, the sun is going down
you hear music coming from far away
you remember to open your eyes
and when you do you see light through a door
the door looks out onto a hallway
and the music you are hearing
is coming from down the hall
you are a curious sort of person
so you trace the music to its source
you are confused because your steps come hard
walking a forgotten art
you are walking in a foot of water
maybe even walking through a swamp
but you make it to the end of the hall
and to the music which is blaring
there are many people dancing which is nice
but they are wearing bed clothes
and you think hard with no result
you are wondering whether
you have been kidnapped and taken
to a dance for the sexually adventurous
and are confused when you recognize no one
it does not matter though
you like the music
and after the first few steps
the dancing comes easy
at first you are dancing by yourself
surrounded by other dancers
they are men and women and in between
the music continues and the dancing never
stops
Copyright© michael dennis/Pulp Press Book Publishers