stumbling and embarrassed
I go away

a hiker almost steps on a snail
but stops himself just before
he bends down to look
“Hello, Mr. Snail.”
the snail slowly continues
“You’re quite a specimen.”
and the snail does not turn
“Why do you ignore me?”
but the snail says nothing
and continues on its way

leisure is odd
the ability to think
and sit around
enjoy a quiet moment
it’s novel
not doing anything
with my hands or eyes
at the end
I don’t even begrudge
going back to work
though I’d prefer not to

productiveness
that’s an adult
sort of

an orange drops from a tree
and no one picks it up

call you
call them
everything is okay
call back
call again

thump, thump, thump
a roofer straddled the ridge
he pulled another nail
from a compartment in his belt
he positioned it
and swung his hammer down
thump, thump, thump
his partner was in the house
talking to the beautiful homeowner
the roofer knew his partner
his partner liked pretty women
and hated heights
thump, thump, thump
he scrambled to his knees
pulled at the tether
it secured him to the roof
he went closer to the edge
“she changed her mind!”
thump, thump, thump
his partner yelled up to him
“what?” the roofer yelled back
but he had heard and he sighed
he untethered himself
and scooted to the ladder
thump