i don't think our neighbors
like me, but it's probably because
i throw water balloons at their kids whenever
they walked through our backyard,
it's all harmless fun,
and their kids even seem to make a game
out of the whole rigmarole,
but i suppose it is cause
for concern,
all the same
it's been a long time
since i've been in a fight
with my fists,
drinking all night,
staring up at the dense
blank(et) envelope,
holding out its hand
to offer one quick punch
in the nose
and off, and off
that universe goes!
i got stuck in the middle of the road,
and couldn't move,
though the light turned,
yet i stayed still
in the middle of the road,
as the cars piled up behind me,
honking, yelling expletives, expectorating
all sorts of vile things,
unchristian things,
unjewish things,
unmuslim things,
unbuddhist things,
perhaps things an atheist might say,
but believe it or not,
i stayed stuck
in the middle of the road
for all to witness and gawk at,
though hopefully someone found pleasure
in my stasis
Fred Aiken Writing 