paper towels

 

muscular words

whirlwind to push

and

push him 

to the frail margins

 

outdoor seating areas

blur under blue

tarps

cave in towards him

with assailing scraps 

of food from plastic trays

powerless metal 

 

cogs and mechanisms 

slide between blank sheets of

paper

tap against his back

with the rhythm of his

dragging footsteps

 

windowless

scuffed linoleum

and black painted stalls

scattered for days with soaked

brown

paper towels to dry

unwashed hands

 

 

a crescendo

of unzipping

scraping

clicks of preparation

and beading sweat

streams of

interesting books read

abandoned goals

prayers

puddle around freshly combed hair

and climb down salty cheeks

now it is worth

cleaning

up