Analogies   scanning the horizon standing in the rain remembering tomorrow opening a vein   when you claimed you had a lot to give & stood there with your broom were you looking for a place to live or just another room?   scanning the horizon . . .   I twisted with so much to prove my muscles they did seethe my mind was restless, on the move the teacher just said “Breathe”   scanning the horizon . . .   I wasn’t expecting a trip into space I wasn’t expecting a thing I wasn’t expecting my heartbeat to race I wasn’t expecting to sing   scanning the horizon . . .   I don’t care for all your folderol don’t care about your dirt just show me where you hit the wall & show me where it hurts   scanning the horizon . . .   the crew was ragged, showing strain the wages were not fair the foreman made his wishes plain: level, plumb, & square   scanning the horizon . . .   you used up every stick of lumber busted all my tools & now you have the nerve to mumble sorry is for fools   scanning the horizon . . .   try lunging for the pilot’s seat try seizing the controls try dimestore preaching on the street try saving every soul   scanning the horizon standing in the rain remembering tomorrow opening a vein     © Michael Fleming Brattleboro, Vermont March 2016