Street Eyes
Street eyes
make you awkward.
You take each glance
like a dart.
Tensing your stomach
won’t save your posture.
Tom Waits records
won’t make you cool.
There’s nothing to be done with you.
You don’t look calm with a cigarette.
You shoulders are curved
and your teeth are wonky.
The wind’s doing something with your hair.
Somewhere you know you’re a genius
but you can’t remember where that is.
Your walk becomes wrong
and when the street eyes
turn your way
you can’t manage anything
except maybe
hopefully
avoiding the puddles
gathering at your feet.
