In a Loop

It seems that all I’m good for nowadays

is sitting and smoking and staring out the window,

listening to a bus trill come to a full stop,

and being a good listener when a friend needs some help.

I appreciate the simple pleasures nowadays, too,

like this permeating feeling of feeling nothing new

and all those same songs that says it gets better,

sometimes I believe it but most times I don’t.

I tried writing several difficult poems today

on finding peace and good prose and nothing

I really know of and then sat and smoked and

went back to bed to get some perspective.

I suppose I must be enjoying my own company

since I’ve spent three days alone.

I think it’s ok to feel like a slow-motion machine sometimes,

and give yourself grace whenever you’ve got the guts to,

and to listen to the people who say you’re doing great,

even if they tell you everything you already know.

All I know is I know nothing these days, and that’s ok too,

a simple mind is just fine,

as long as you don’t stay in that space for too long.