Weighed down by the chains of his past
His future beckoning to him from the sea
He contemplated, but hesitated to jump in
Not knowing if he would sink or float

I grab the empty bottles
Put the glasses into the sink
Pick up my ***** underwear
Empty the overflowing ashtray
Open the window wide
To renew the air in the room
Where last night
We had talked, and smoked
Finished all the bottles
Of my cheap red wine

I straighten the pillows
On the old ***** couch
Where last night
We had fumbled around
Drunkenly but eager
Laughing about our inability
To **** properly
Too drunk to get it up
Too befuddled
To know better

I broom the floor
Where last night
We had danced
All naked
Holding on to
Each other
Listening to music
We did not understand
To love songs
We did not believe in

I am cleaning up
The mess
That is my life

Looking absentmindedly
Into the swirling water
Hearing without listening
The plitcher, platcher
Following with empty eyes
The leaf flowing unpredictably
He thought about his life
Or rather, absence of life

He stretched out beside the brook
Looked up through the trees
Into an ocean of flickering light
And marveled at the beauty of the stars
Calling him to get up and dance
But with a heavy and empty heart
He turned away from their beauty
Back into his dark mind

There should be a 911 line for
Broken hearts and broken minds
A shelter for people like me
The homeless of the heart
A church to welcome lost souls
Wandering through agony and pity
But I guess this place right here
Is as good as it gets