the morning comes too soon,
same gray light through
the window,
same coffee that
never kicks in.
the walls close in,
the clock ticks too loud,
the world spins
and I’m stuck
on this worn-out ride.
people talk,
and their words
fall flat like
old jokes.
they laugh
but it’s hollow,
a sound like
the rattling
of empty cans.
I walk the streets,
the city’s heartbeat
is a tired thud,
and the sky hangs
heavy with smog.
what’s left to do
but drag yourself
through the day,
each step a
small rebellion
against the
nothingness
that waits
like a
hungry dog?
at night,
I sit and listen
to the silence,
the only honest thing
in this place.
maybe tomorrow
will be different,
but I’m not
counting on it.
-G