there’s a fly
buzzing around
the room
while I’m
at the
computer
banging
out this piece
of reality
the fly is
contented,
at ease,
he’s having a ball,
I stop typing
and listen
to the movement
of the fly
he stops buzzing
when he hears
the silence
and proceeds
to perch himself
upon my glass of wine
he looks at me slyly
and I smile in reply
he buzzes his response
and heads away
to an adventure
I can never be
a part of
I smile at you
as I smiled at the fly,
hoping you understand
as well as my friend,
the fly
Notes
The reading is from before a Hated Uncles show at the Gown’n’Gavel in 1998. I read 2 poems that night. Was I trying to get laid by letting my emotional side show? Oh, wait…
Written: 1996