In the City
After stepping out
Of the medical center
I stepped inside
The liquor store
Which was right next door
For another kind
Of medicine
I asked them for saké
But they were all out
So I walked out
I took the wrong tram
By accident
And got out
At the next stop
I walked through
A small park
Where a solitary duck
Took flight
As I approached
I took a seat
In the correct tram
Where next to me
Sat an old man
With a trembling dog
On his lap
The dog looked at me
As I looked back
And then we looked outside
At the snow-covered streets
There was a mailman
In front of my apartment
Pushing advertisements
Inside the mail slot
That no one wanted
I greeted him, thinking
There might go
The next Bukowski
But probably not
In two days time
It was going to be
New Year’s Eve
Another ride
Around the sun
On a very tired
Merry-go-round
