There is a pile of words
stacked in the hallway
It could be a poem,
or a purpose
But it isn't
I was tired, so I
took my rest
beside a
sea
of digital
noise
Somewhere on the moon
The locals observed me with
curious amusement
I spelled "S.O.S."
in giant letters
on the beach
With the corpses
of my enemies
And waited for the rescue
When it came,
I was translated instantly
into Heavenly code
by a solar
event
That might have been the Rapture
I left my towel on the beach
My enemies were twisted
into shapes of
regret
that spelled out a warning
you could read
from earth
It was hard to discern between
the words of fury
and sadness
without a telescope
But the pain was unmistakable
I wasn't thinking about it
There was no wrath or
unforgiveness in
my heart
Only gratitude to be leaving
Gratitude,
relief,
and no small amount of wonder
at the observation
that
The moon is made of stairs not
cheese like everybody
thinks
Sea of Tranquility
Tennessee whatcha want from me?
I ain't lookin' for a fight
I'm just tired
I'm so tired
Neon oasis in the middle of the night
I'm just wired
I'm so wired
Truckwash at the Flying J
lookin' for a ride
I ain't sleepin' in no cornfield
Lotsa cream and lotsa sugar
I like my coffee gentrified
the mosquitoes
got it made
I laid my head
on a wicker welcome mat
then I saw the flicker
of a smile,
and a voice said,
"welcome back,"
but I don't know where I'm at
With spiders in my pockets
I had no sense of failure
I just wanted
to see what's out there
Hoboes, bums, and derelicts,
psychotic violent offenders
everyone can teach you something
I haven't walked in circles all these years for nothing
I left my blankets lying on a beach
by the Sea of Tranquility
don't forget about me
©2007 Nathan Payne
