i no longer take
the sweet blue pill
for slumber
though i still count every penny
except the ones i spend
on the sweet elixar
a word i can’t even spell
most of the time
independence is dangerous
if you look at it
through the jaded eyes
of the woman in
the black dress
the dirty laundry is
no longer airing
though i’m tempted from
time to time
the woman who named me
asks how i can be
so forgiving
so utterly unaware
of consequence
i simply smile and say
whatever, man