the rain falls and lets me down gently,

me at the end of my own frayed rope,

at the corner of this street and that street,

soaked through with last night’s sweat.

it’s a magic-less city— all CCTV cameras and

debunked urban legends. the bookstore closes

to make room for another fast food chain.

your friends move away (the ones that you

still talk to).  it makes things quieter.

the quiet was good to you but now it is 

turned against you. the jaws of a steel trap

around your ankle.  if you can’t handle the 

noise or the quiet, what’s left for you?

it’s a cold walk home.  the windows I pass 

glare orange in the blue night. they say: 

when will you be happy? when it’s all gone?

when it all comes back to you?  what did you 

want in the first place? was it all worth it?