last monday in town

reading the last pages of paperback dharma bums with jack
getting all upset about wine, and keeping it in his belt,
i was a little hung over from vodka orange soda night before
watching dick wolf shows with my little sister, smoking on the back porch
sitting at the tire store waiting for defective valve stems to be replaced, free

of charge. drove down to the secretary of state, not sure if
i could register to vote there, you called asking where a decent
bicycle could be purchased. i wasn’t sure, try ann arbor.

at the thai restaraunt we used to frequent when we
were family. old lady came from the back, “no mommy?
no daddy? just you?”
then proceeded to rub my neck and shoulders, pronounced me
“grown boy now”, i shoveled spicy rice and cashews into my mouth
ignoring my stomach, left a tip bigger than the bill
believing in karma.