Showing up

By Colin Gee

Hot coffee, fresh socks, fresh coffee, socks on shoes, slacks first, tucked in, diaper cinched, lunch pail, thermos tea, papers in the briefcase, three little pens, blue red black, computer, hello computer, 2T flash drive, food in food bowl, water in dish, turn on the washer, turn off the fan, turn on the TV, fuck you neighbors, lock up bikes, piss in a bush, car keys, house keys, money, key fob, cards, license, change for the tollman, ID for garage, pat down the wet hair, comb wet, brush dry jacket, a coat, raincoat on the bucket seat, glasses on the bridge, hand in glove, wool hat red, ears nose and lips, turn over the engine, scrape off the ice, legs feet and shins, slip into first, driving down the road, taking his first right, taking his first left, full stop, clutch out, going five miles over, going eight, pass a Chevy, pass a Volvo, pass a teacher, pass a mother, pass a teen, past the teen, pass a semi, pass a station, pass a mall, pass hissing air, crack the window, fucking cold, pass a guard, flash a badge, creep on in, under gate, into stall 4, slam back the door, lock it the fob, clip clop on shoes over concrete, moving past the concrete, swiping badge, in you go boy, get round the corner, hi to Sally, empty in the lift, lift to floor 6, scurry down the hall, howdy to Cowboy Gayle, coat off, case down, machine on, and now the work is done, sitting on the chair, just sitting on the chair, now we’re sitting on the chair.

Colin Gee (@ColinMGee) is founder and editor of The Gorko Gazette. The Penult from LEFTOVER Books. Lips from Anxiety Press. Left in the Lurch from DUMBO Press.