New piece — first draft

The things I should be doing before I end the day at work are never the ones I end up doing.

SHOWER

Settling for a moment after the shower’s
been turned off with your shoulders against
the washcloth rail, hair dripping in the
sudden cold. The bathroom window is open
and the breeze is already drying you
before you ever pick up a towel —

tell yourself, maybe that’s how you’ll get through
the day, the week, the rest of your life: waiting to dry
after a deluge. Tell yourself that there are worse things
than living by recovering over and over again
from whatever just happened to you.
Tell yourself there are worse things than being affected.

If you could just get your back off this rail
and get out of the shower you might accomplish something
today. You could clean mildew and cobwebs.
You could eat something healthy for you. You could sleep
right, love well, feel well. If you could just get your back
off this rail and dry yourself off, you could even put on clean clothes.

On the street, maybe on the lawn, some bird’s singing the spring fling
to a background of mowers and children calling.
If you could just get your back off this rail, you could look out the window
and see what kind of bird, whose lawn, whose kids are out there.
You could if you were dry and clothed and able to form a wish.
You think about shaving, then remember: they keep all the razors locked up here.

About Tony Brown

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A poet with a history in slam, lots of publications; my personal poetry and a little bit of daily life and opinions. Read the page called "About..." for the details. View all posts by Tony Brown

18 responses to “New piece — first draft

  • jeremyrichards

    Nice

    Yes, the ending really works.

  • jeremyrichards

    Nice

    Yes, the ending really works.

  • jeremyrichards

    Nice

    Yes, the ending really works.

  • kaphine

    Gettin’ it.

    As I’ve been feeling deluged at work, this piece has a strong resonance for me. You’ve captured that feeling well enough that I feel you’re talking to or about me, and your other feedback seems to indicate you’ve struck the same chord for others. Thanks for postin’ it.

  • kaphine

    Gettin’ it.

    As I’ve been feeling deluged at work, this piece has a strong resonance for me. You’ve captured that feeling well enough that I feel you’re talking to or about me, and your other feedback seems to indicate you’ve struck the same chord for others. Thanks for postin’ it.

  • kaphine

    Gettin’ it.

    As I’ve been feeling deluged at work, this piece has a strong resonance for me. You’ve captured that feeling well enough that I feel you’re talking to or about me, and your other feedback seems to indicate you’ve struck the same chord for others. Thanks for postin’ it.

  • penny_player

    Damn Tony, that totally works. Surprise ending is effecting but I just love that line “waiting to dry after a deluge.”

  • penny_player

    Damn Tony, that totally works. Surprise ending is effecting but I just love that line “waiting to dry after a deluge.”

  • penny_player

    Damn Tony, that totally works. Surprise ending is effecting but I just love that line “waiting to dry after a deluge.”

  • lordrexfear

    Nice Tony

    But I was hoping for a picture. 😉 hehehe. 😉

  • lordrexfear

    Nice Tony

    But I was hoping for a picture. 😉 hehehe. 😉

  • lordrexfear

    Nice Tony

    But I was hoping for a picture. 😉 hehehe. 😉

  • sapience

    This hit me just right. I’m feeling it.

  • sapience

    This hit me just right. I’m feeling it.

  • sapience

    This hit me just right. I’m feeling it.

  • peragrin_fogin

    Hey

    Love, dug, that.

    The mowers started going about 15 minutes ago.

    I need a few showers a day ideally.

    Need to wash it all off.
    Need some kind of hygiene coach. I’m talk’in nutrition, exercise, and lots of R & R. Specializing in R & R. Keith O. is having R. Ben Veniste on at 8:00, they just posted me.
    I haven’t had extended cable for a few weeks and its really wrecking havoc on my morale. I used to love to go to sleep to Tough Crowd, and see K.O. at eight or midnight, it just made everything go down better for me emotionally. I’m heading for that shower.

  • peragrin_fogin

    Hey

    Love, dug, that.

    The mowers started going about 15 minutes ago.

    I need a few showers a day ideally.

    Need to wash it all off.
    Need some kind of hygiene coach. I’m talk’in nutrition, exercise, and lots of R & R. Specializing in R & R. Keith O. is having R. Ben Veniste on at 8:00, they just posted me.
    I haven’t had extended cable for a few weeks and its really wrecking havoc on my morale. I used to love to go to sleep to Tough Crowd, and see K.O. at eight or midnight, it just made everything go down better for me emotionally. I’m heading for that shower.

  • peragrin_fogin

    Hey

    Love, dug, that.

    The mowers started going about 15 minutes ago.

    I need a few showers a day ideally.

    Need to wash it all off.
    Need some kind of hygiene coach. I’m talk’in nutrition, exercise, and lots of R & R. Specializing in R & R. Keith O. is having R. Ben Veniste on at 8:00, they just posted me.
    I haven’t had extended cable for a few weeks and its really wrecking havoc on my morale. I used to love to go to sleep to Tough Crowd, and see K.O. at eight or midnight, it just made everything go down better for me emotionally. I’m heading for that shower.

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