a whale flopped
over in his pool. And all
the water came splashing out
the sides. The whale, so wide
took up every inch of space.

It was as if
he fell asleep
for a year. Even as
his lashes fluttered as a butterfly
he was in a dream of masks and ties
that was gray. The black
and whites erased. He washed
his face. But did he wake?

It was as if
he did not peel
his eyes off the screen. He lifted
his seat to take a ***. But like slugs
his eyes mugged the green.

It was as if
he was leaning
on his arm and not
his charm to talk. He was flat
as a fly after it was swatted. The square
plastic mesh did not make for a pretty dress.