The Candy Bar Story

Boredom
softens me
as if I’m candy
in a shut car
in a casino parking lot
whose driver is inside
winning
one hundred and thirty six dollars
on a video poker game
and thinking about getting
flatiron steak at the buffet
to celebrate
then maybe hitting the lounge
for a drink or two
or three
but then he goes
belly up
when feeling flush he hits
the craps table
and comes back to the car
and I’m shapeless
and not
appetizing enough
to be a consolation
so he chucks me out the window
on the angry drive home
where I gather gravel on the shoulder
and am eventually eaten
by a raccoon
who is then struck and killed
by a tour bus

coming up with that story
is the most interesting thing
I’ve done all day