whiling away time

2/22/06 Starbucks High Ridge

whiling away time
Sam busy at Richie’s
(bathroom)
I read Ashbery’s Chinese Whispers
a birthday gift from Ralph
gives me a feeling
a sensation
like I’m an old disordered Victorian
which I am
like obsidian
something seen out of the corner of my eye
the “we” recapturing college
the hi-jinks of old friends
like Ashbery could never be an honest I
unsuccessful journaling
a surplus of fish
and other animals of the sea
I’m amused anyway

Today Linda told me
I needed a beatin’
and Elaine needed a beatin’
and Sanjay needed a smack on the back of his head hard enough that his head would hit the desk and snap back and leave a little mark right here …
I felt a little overwhelmed with the violence
of the English school marm
so I pounded a first on the table (I mean a fist)
and I closed the meeting
not wanting to sit around any longer
with Mr. Dithers
we had sat around long enough
we, the left behind
we could have been visiting Tulip Row in Amsterdam
but instead we were in Montvale
taking our beatin’
taking it good
taking it on our booties
sighing in our byootiful booties