oops and other riffs


Standin' on the corner waiting for the light to change
Lookin' up lookin' all around me 
Seein' it reflected back
Reachin' for the camera, 
Diggin' in the purse,
 its here 
somewhere
OOPS
it went flying up out of my hand 
bounce 
bounce 
OH NO 
Wait . its okay.  

A close call.

On the way home on the subway the lights in the car went off 
not completely 
 It triggered memories of when I was a kid 
the seats on the subway were made of what felt like straw
Not sitting but on my knees looking out the window 
seeing myself reflected 
the sound of the subway car on the tracks seemed so loud 
I would sing, 
sing out loud 
loudly
 thinking no one could hear me 
for the clack clack clack 

Not unlike the day I spent with Leslie
 Her mom called: Leslie come here!
 the radio played a song I knew
I sang along out loud 
loudly 
Leslie came back 
she 
said
 you sing funny 
Sing? I wasnt singing. 
I heard you. 
No, it wasn't me. 

Reflexive lying. 
A habit broken 
 I still sing 
badly
trust me if you heard me 
you'd turn the volume up
drown me out