Walter M. Miller Jr. - End Of A Year

The road is bleak

I learned firsthand

When hot gravel and sand burned the soles of my feet

Marrying age.

Home-owning age

Short straws for all involved

Enough bars for a cage

Warehouse work

I’ve been stocking shelves

I carry on I put you before myself

Pattern Pattern

Same dance of atoms

Same lame legs

Same hips to wag them

Politics, religion

Your life and your interests

I’d do just as well to not have to hear them

Walk ten years back to your shitty flat

Christmas bulbs the only lighting

My other age.

An irresponsible age

Hard calls for all involved

I tried to save face

Let’s be honest

I would serve us both better to walk straight

Into high traffic

Walk 8 years back to our shitty flat

Stark white walls and overhead lighting

A hard sell.

A high-rate

A hot time.

A cold grave

The road is bleak

I learned firsthand

When hot gravel and sand burned the soles of my feet

Marrying age.

Home-owning age

Short straws for all involved

Enough bars for a cage

Warehouse work

I’ve been stocking shelves

I carry on I put you before myself