i kick the dirt off my shoes

stupid, because they're just gonna collect more.

i hang up my coat & sit for a brief moment on the couch.

there's a fish swimming in my head

& i swear i've flushed him down the toilet several times before.

maybe he just likes the water up there.

i reach to turn on the tele only to notice your reflection sitting somewhere

just behind me.

i turn in a startled realization that you are actually here.

my first question to you is not how did you get into my kitchen,

but more like where have you been?

makes me laugh inside & the fish does a fancy little tail swoosh.

you stare at me in silence with a half cracked grin

& the look that's always in your eyes.

the "i wanna say something but don't have the ability to do so" look.

i, of course, already know this so i simply pour a drink for me

& hand it to you.

i put a record on, light a cigarette & turn again to face the reflection of you in the tv set.

perhaps, then we could be real with each other.

if i spent the afternoon recollecting & unpacking with a reflection,

maybe we could hold a conversation, or heaven forbid, find some common ground 

& have a laugh or two.

this reminds me, the fish is probably hungry, so i feed him.

i sit back down, clear my throat & then it dawns on me...

"hell, i don't even own a television."