i awoke in the early afternoon
and was reminded of the need to bathe;
odors and oils of a slothful human.

i shaved with a dry old razor
so that i could feel each blade-like tug
and slice the shafts of time that grow from my freckled face

i ran the shower warm before entering
because lately i am a cold stone
and do not contain any independent means of heat

i laid myself beneath the running water like warming raindrops
and heard some loud but distant music
as my thoughts raced above their melancholy sound

my thoughts were noble and ignorant; dualistic.
concerned with the world and my impact upon it.
refusing to buy a car, refusing deodorant and plastic products

i found myself hopeful for once
warm and joyous
as the water wasted itself past my skin and down the drain.

then I remembered that each passing drop equals a single footstep
which builds to the distance required
for others to gather a quarter of my waste.

back to square one
slothful and smelly
needing so dearly to wake.