small cheap rooms where you walk
down the hall to the
bathroom can seem romantic to
a young writer.
even the rejection slips are
amusing because you are sure that
you are
one of the best.

but while sitting there
looking across the room
at the portable typer
waiting for you on the table
you are really
in a sense
insane

as you wait for
one more night to arrive to sit and
type Immortal Words--but now you
just sit and think about it
on your first afternoon in a strange city.

looking over at the door you
almost
expect a beautiful woman to walk in.

being young
helps get you through
many senseless and terrible
days.

being old
does
too.

You **** in air to keep your lungs inflating
tied to ancient choices when you gave up gills
and you cannot remember that far history
but you know the ocean can be beautiful
and you know she longs to take you back.

Darkness comes, an old friend
black wrapt around faith.
You cannot see in the dark
but that's the whole point.