Watch The Usual Suspects
and Reservoir Dogs
back to back
and become amazed at how
peaceful you feel.

Stare at the last guitar
in the room, but do not play it.
All the others have moved out
and it seems disloyal to play it here, now,
with its family far away. Wait until the reunion,
you whisper to it.

Keep petting the cat. Startle yourself
with tears. Startle even more when
at 5AM the other two cats stir in the bedroom;
they never sleep up here.
Thank them. Get up for a bit
and feed them earlier than normal.

Lie back down.
Listen to the outdoors: the cars
going up and down the road
again — out for breakfast, early work,
quick runs to the store for the paper.

Count the number of times
you’ve loved this life
in the last few years
on one hand.

Throw off the covers, and rise.