Fume off into the darkness
With a curse caught in your teeth
Hurry from the thrall of the window-lights
Into the damp and dirty street
Edge around the cars parked in the road
And walk as if you've got somewhere to go
You could be out for drinks in the city glow
With a buzzing in your head
You could've brought the TV to your room
And not have gotten out of bed
But you're stuck in central Oregon instead
With a head all full of things you shouldn't have said
And cousins with their video games
And cartoon marathons
And aunts who fix you with a pitying eye
When they ask how you've been getting on
And "What have you done to your hair?"
And "Is that really such a good thing to wear?"
Punch the button at the crosswalk
To give the blinking light something to do
It's past midnight, and everyone's in bed by now
But the porch light will be left on for you
And one standing lamp in the living room
And the lights on the Christmas tree
Pointedly, pointedly