It’s just noise
squirrels in attic 
possum in basement 
an incessant scratching 
a brain itch
out of reach 
an over again 
and over again 
with little relief 
except for pause 
when it itself 
goes quiet thinking 
bit of this 
some of that
again it starts 
over and over 
and over again 
until again overtakes 
hopes of over 

It is heartbreaking 
this being called 
to be something 
that I’ve been 
and no longer 
wish to be 
I simply want 
to live what 
is ever left 
of my life
in my peace 
for down I’ve 
put my sword
and my shield
it is true 
what Wisdom said 
about the ghosts 
of our past 
dancing upon the 
graves of dreams 
that only death 
will bring rest

Here I sit
coffee in hand 
wondering maybe if
and maybe so
but like the 
steam that rises 
from my coffee 
I know that 
what escapes never 
comes back and 
what is cooled 
rarely ever warms 

Hurry back 
same thing 
every time 
and here
I wait
day dreaming 
drumming fingers 
losing whatever 
it was 
I was
interested in 
be bed
or coffee 
or canoodling

Tic tac toe 
and tiddly winks 
so are the 
games people play 
checkers and chess 
and hopscotch too
all just glee
and selfish giddiness 
snickers and sarcasm 
seems to separate 
oh to find 
just one adult 
on the playground 
capable of connecting 
this is what 
they call dating