By Mark Miner
Isn't it funny to think
that the man who cut you off in traffic
has friends?
probably a few good friends?
and maybe a wife, who dresses up in lingerie
for him?
Just him. On special occasions. And they drink wine.
The sallow-faced kid at the checkout
who dropped the lettuce, but bagged it anyway,
he has a mother.
She is probably proud that he has a job.
Maybe they need the money.
Maybe it's for college.
YOU went to college.
Why not him?
That waitress who smiles at the catcalls
you know she does that because she's a good waitress, right?
Not because she likes it.
And if her boyfriend heard, he might punch those guys
but maybe he's real tender to her.
And that's why she's smiling
because she has Valentine's Day off.
And they're going out to dance.
The dead-eyed office worker
two cubes over?
Yeah, he's writing poetry
on company time
because he's bored
and maybe he'll make it as a poet.
or maybe he'll just make it out of here.
You know you wish you could, too.
