drinking German beer
and trying to come up with
the immortal poem at
5 p.m. in the afternoon.
but, ah, I’ve told the
students that the thing
to do is not to try.
but when the women aren’t
around and the horses aren’t
running
what else is there to do?
I’ve had a couple of
sexual fantasies
had lunch out
mailed three letters
been to the grocery store.
nothing on tv.
the telephone is quiet.
I’ve run dental floss
between my teeth.
it won’t rain and I listen
to the early arrivals from the
8 hour day as they
drive in and park their cars
behind the apartment
next door.
I sit drinking German beer
and trying to come up with the
big one
and I’m not going to make it.
I’m just going to keep drinking
more and more German beer
and rolling smokes
and by 11 p.m.
I’ll be spread out
on the unmade bed
face up
asleep under the electric
light
still waiting on the immortal
poem.