atmospheric pressure

when you agreed to come

you were told that not many people would be here

you were told that no one you knew would show

you were told a lot of things

but now, as the door opens &

in you walk, hand in hand with your chosen

manipulator,

s/he smiles at the crowd that clings to their every word

like some politician whose dirty past hasn’t been drudged up yet

&

all you want is outta here

all you want is a quiet place where you can chill---

still,

personality after personality

come up to you, as if you had every intention of joining them this evening

as if you were happy to be here

as if you wanted to talk with them

as if you yourself found them to be

deep

thinkers

whose lives did not revolve around their careers or the people they were

f*****g,

hmmm, but alas, as the dust has settled

the charade shows its ugly little face &

that is all that anyone has to talk about

that is all anyone here really does,

but there is the beer & there is the wine,

with a few crazy rascals out back smokin’ doobies

hopin’ their significant others don’t walk in

to pick up the leash & drag em’ on home

good lil’ doggies

every single one of em’

arf arf arf!---

as it all fades in on itself

growing stale & ever more non-threatening

the pressure to bolt becomes horrendous

because any time wasted on this planet

resounds tremendously

again & again, and

it will haunt you later

like your own personal gong in your head

reminding you of this place &

this evening

you wish you could forget.