Once Upon A Time On Death Row

Read your horoscope, Aquarius:
“Today it’s anything goes.”
Does it matter that you are on death row?
Your face looks intelligent enough
But are you feigning sanity?
Every day you put the gun to your head,
The iron hammer falls,
The bullet spins in the barrel,
You feel the hot searing muzzle blast,
Then nothing,
Only to relive the scene once more:
The spent projectile falls harmlessly ,
You pick it up off of the floor,
Yes, this is the weapon,
Yes, this is the bullet,
Yes, this is the man who pulled the trigger,
Finally, you hear the footfall of priestly steps,
A voice singing “Amazing Grace,”
But they didn’t buy your conversion rap,
That somehow you are now of some value
To the prison populace,
Better to have spent your time as a Buddhist
Where you could walk to your new karma
Like Milarepa,
Wearing a yellow robe and holding a begging bowl,
Then recite the Sacred Mantra
As the drugs begin to flow.

Things Found and Noticed While Walking On Strang Line Road

Things found and noticed while walking from Uhaul to work on Strang Line Road:

Leaving Uhaul at 8:05 am noticing the Esther Williams Pool sales next door,
Reminding me of a mescaline trip in the 80’s watching an Esther Williams movie,
The water looks inviting,

Passing by all the eats: Shlotsky’s, Marriott Inn (where I am sure I could have copped
A free continental breakfeast), Hampton Inn same thing, Barrel of Crackers where I sat
In one of the rocking chairs, McUbiquitous, Zios, Crabshack, Burger King, Hooters,
Texas BBQ, Panda Express, Long John Silverfish /A&W Root Beer, Wendy’s, Panera,
Sushi House, Chipotle, Popeye’s Chicken, Noodleshop, Ruby Tuesday’s, and IHOP.
Too bad I wasn’t hungry.

Things found and noticed: Sewer manhole, trash bag in tree,
A new Jeffersonian nickel,
A face down playing card I couldn’t resist turning over: Jokerman,
A 5/16 quarter inch drive socket made in Taiwan
(Why couldn’t it have been a Craftsman?),
A Doors cd with a bite taken out of it (really!),
A jogging human who didn’t smile or even look up as he limped by,
Lightning and thunder behind me and then sprinkles of rain,
Several intimidating crosswalks at 119th. Street,
A three of spades playing card face up
(which when turned over revealed the same deck
Pattern as the Jokerman two blocks earlier),
A nice pair of panties next to an undershirt,
One of those dental floss deals that looks like a banjo,
A POW-MIA doo rag, a banana peel,
Train tracks, frowning drivers, loud cars and trucks,
The JO bus going the other way,
The never ending drive up line at Starbucks,
The door to Comanche.