fatigue so full it takes up three paper plates
a late-night slice making you late to your self
the one waiting on you to take care
take care, we say, sure one day
I’ll sleep when I’m dead
is also something we say
carrying us from dreams
to stage to seat to bed to dreams
like cattails waving in the wind
flowers left in a vase and oils
diffusing in a minivan to keep
spirits up and away, up and away
like the stars past the planets
like the bulbs over the audience
twinkling, shimmering guitars sliding
out of silk, stained, a bit bloody
muddy waters where the stage once was
a light roux a little rouge a lot of roofs
with blue tarps back home 13 years ago
and no one addressed the floods
I am really sorry about them
I am really sorry for not taking care
we gotta go, gotta get back to basics
goodnight muse, goodnight moon
goodnight goodnight goodnight