Wednesday, May 10, 2023

JOBBERS

How is it we're 
accomplished enough
to talk so much—
excusing and 
typing, reciting 
and refusing—yet 
nothing we say 
hews even close 
to the truth? 

There's just
so much serviceable 
music in the world
we must think 
to ourselves, 
but not enough 
jobbers out there
cranking out 
librettos

and so, with 
resoluteness 
akin to pioneers, 
astronauts, 
soldiers entrenched 
in their foxholes, 
we atomize 
forbearance and 
perfume the air 

with pleasant 
patter, crows, 
and blues; we 
sidle-up 
to complicit 
partners, grit 
our teeth and part 
our gums—and fire 
out the news.