joel preston west

i would so i could
daysleep without a garment over my eyes
without feeling like i am blowing somebody else’s
coveted opportunities

wrap them tight
anchor them to the bumper of my old car
because as long as they stay the car will not be
going anywhere soon

cover my house
so the dogwalkers can walk past without
having to look at it and look at me and wonder
how i am doing inside

and whether or
not i have made something of myself or
of the endless opportunities california presents
our tired hands with

i don’t care that
everyone in every other state is jealous
of our sunshine and ocean and freeways and all
i’m jealous of them

and their lack
of obligation to stand out in the daylight
and stand out among others standing out there
looking as we should

day after day
after day after
day after day