the wet, black and slippery pavement shines and sparkles
sudden reflections of the tax payer public lights
and every now and then, on almost every corner
sudden greens and reds, gifted by the traffic lights
hanging, swinging, dripping
Downtown buildings tower in their opulence
their history, peeking over clouds
dirt and oil wash down to the waterfront
the different characters gather at the coffee shop
along with a gumbo of diversity.
That's when time stops
clocks begin to stutter
and memory rivers flow
the pain taxi has arrived
dressed in fair vomit yellow
with a man with a turban inside
ready to take any unsuspecting suspect
wherever they may go
Me? I'm already there, again
walking down Regret Drive
corner with Anger Boulevard
and in this rain I wonder
if I could have done different
if I should have
if I failed
or if I've simply forgotten the way back
if I am who I think I am
or if I'm tired from trying to fit into this mold
into this worthless, empty, sad, trained mannequin
you wanted me to be
