flu season

i drill through the city with a subway

that weeps each morning about a blue print

to a million other lives than this

they say that some of the microbacteria

from thousands of years are being unfrozen

from the glaciers because of climate change

why is this place so cold

where is the custodial staff when you need them

phone empty

though it is dirty

email trash

though it is clean

both advertise of flaming hot cheetos and the shot

of blanks

the work goes before more comes

with a future thawing

what are those bacteria thinking

do they hope that things are different now

that the only dinosaurs around are those that

don’t use computers or still watch tv in grey

would they appreciate them hug them love them fuck them

whispering how light and dark is cut throat enough

can they answer those big questions that

remain like

what is the meaning of life

or what makes the flaming hot hot

and will i ever find loooooooo

lost

the key is stuck

as the subway sweeps into sleep

with a crowded car and a power pissed away

everyone complains that this is the third time this week

it is so cold

i stand alone

i grab no rail

fearful of the bacteria around

how many more lives

will i live

how many more of them will be spent

looking for another i

who is not still stuck

on you