"Long Distance"

[akimboandaskew]

I really should know better by now

than to do the shopping late at night

I’d come meaning to buy hotdogs

and I’ve ended up in a fitting room,

scrutinizing myself and how I fit

into a variety of lacy things.

To be true, I’m disappointed in myself

as the cashier rings up all my extra purchases.

Then again, I’ve already broken

several promises tonight

-for example, it was two and a half hours ago

when you made me swear I’d go to bed-

and my next pay will be here, ironically,

on St. Valentine’s Day.

I slide my keys into the ignition

and decide to take Nicky’s way back.

She proved how much faster it was,

and I know I’m supposed to be in bed.

But we all know my sense of direction,

so it comes as no surprise when I miss the turn.

It takes me only a moment to realize

which way I was headed-home-

and the thought flies through my mind

that it would only be four o’clock when I got there,

and once I let myself into the house,

I could fall into my bed and wake to see my family

confused, but glad to see me safe.

The temptation nearly gets me, until I remember that

I have a box of popsicles melting beside me,

and the only music I could listen too

is the cd you’d lent me-the one with

all the synthesizers and the man singing

about running away-

and I have an appointment in the morning.

So I take the exit, turn around, and

follow the side streets back to here.