Billy Collins behind

a double espresso

by Roberto Lavidez

love is

not as

simple as

getting up

on the

wrong side

of the bed

wearing the

emperor’s

clothes

to consider

the ruination

of love

a wisp of

smoke

rising from

a chimney

if there

will also

be a sun

and a

moon

and will

the dead

gather

to watch

them

rise

and set

who could

tell what

the next

moment

would hold

another drip

from the

faucet?

and who

cares if it

takes me

all day

to write

a poem

about the

dawn

I was only

behind a

double

espresso

and a

single hit

of anti-

depressant

I only

need to

slide into

place

the image

of Leonardo

at a table

by a

window

but where

are you

reader

who have

not paused

in your

walk

to look

over my

shoulder

to see

what I am

jotting

in this

notebook?

would the

heavy

anthologies

remain

on their

shelves

the word

that was

in the

beginning

and the

word

that was

made flesh

those

and all

the other

words

will cease

and get

my mind

off the

poems

of others

even as

they peer

down from

the trees

living life

to the

fullest

is the

only way

I am

probably

being

too literal

minded

here

I admit

to regarding

my own

birthday

as the

joyous

anniversary

of my

existence

©robertolavidez2014