When I left Sleeping Village 
All I could think about 
Was how slowly 
Everyone read their poems

And how fast 
I wanted to read 
Or to talk, or to ride my bike
Down Milwaukee Ave 
Which is finally paved

And it always seems 
That they pave the streets 
When I stop spending rent 
In that zip code

And I swear at drivers 
When they veer into the oncoming lane 
Who almost disintegrate me 
Like I’m a drywall dust-moth 

And then I’m at the CVS 
On Chicago and Western 
I see the store manager 
She argues (calmy, somehow) with a group of people 

And one of them tries to show his ID 
Which is on his phone 
And I think about the bartender at SV 
Who went to Brazil recently

And I’m finally almost done with 
This short story collection 
By Clarice Lispector 
And still hardly know her 

Anthony Madrid 
Might not like this poem 
But I’m sorry: Seeing poets 
Makes me want to write poetry

And I shouldn’t apologize 
That’s what all the blogs say 
That is the way 
To get ahead in this life 

And the first song that comes on 
My new wave playlist 
Is “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” 
By Tears for Fears 

And I always used to sing that song at Alice’s 
Even though it isn’t called Alice’s 
But everyone knew it as Alice’s 
So we called it Alice’s

And I’ve lived a thousand lives in this city 
And a thousand more every day 
A thousand miles 
And a thousand more 

And I still don’t know 
Is it the Son and Heir 
Or is it the Sun and Air 
It’s not for me to know 

And the cat walks onto my lap 
Feels the warmth of my blood 
After biking four miles home avoiding cars 
Their hazard lights that proclaim: “I’m a hazard” 

And seeing all the new 
Protected bike lanes 
That don’t really matter 
Because hazards park there anyway 

And I wonder: 
What are they protecting me from?