Poem: One Step Closer

[jakebe]

This is a rough draft.

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One Step Closer

scribble, scribble, scribble
always aiming for that next big thing
the fix that takes you
straight to the top.
eyeballing, looking, seeking, craving
those perfect pieces
some of thos things that lock just right
under your nose
stupid
scribble, scrib
ble
and then the falter
the backtracking, the shame
of blowing a literary wad all over the faces
disapproving pedestrians who walk taller than you
you have broken your stride
in the middle of the street
scri...

the strong case of buyer's remorse
the red-faced turn-tail back to the graveyard
another funeral for another dead idea
and again, you've spoken too soon
lips pursed and amazed at your clever po-mo structure
you flew until humid
and the sweat from your brow came undone
the xeroxed copies of Munchausen's wing
that you've fashioned into a hippoglib
and again, you have spoken too soon
bow your head, boy
it's gonna be a long prayer tonight

haven't you ever wanted to be beat?
a new york city cabbie with change and cigarettes to spare
worldly and wise and very, very witty
but hey -- you get paper cuts there, too
it's a grand old time with the smoke and mirrors
a satisfactory distraction
a whirlwind of worldling dervishes
that just wanna give ya a little
fame and fortune
but that eye is looking mighty calm
maybe if you just head to the center
and some place you can
hold

from that center
everything is visible.
everything is close.
you can time the arrow,
you can time the rhythm with which you make it fly.
everything...
scribble, scribble
write.