studying his
face,       luckiest
man on earth:

jokes about y2k,
and getting      old.
      new  normal:
bandaged
  stab wounds
and Abilify in
little      paper     cups.

leaning back in
my chair,
        reading the ceiling,
conjuring
the saint of
    shoddy aim,
misfires, doubt,
humor-

however slight
            in  our      distances.