Second Sight

there, on the treadmill is The Housewife

she’s nondescript, bulging and Sisyphus

I feel the rock of her undoing

rolling over her, before I see it

in her eyes.

a few machines down is the Construction Worker

you can smell him before you see him

he’s weather worn leather skinned

mouth agape, eyes wide and glued to TV

slaking his thirst and

buying what

they’re selling him.

He’s meat and potatoes, with

the metabolism & constitution of a bull

almost taste the cold beer & cheeseburgers

three generations of domestic violence

and breeding

almost feel his rage

when he gets home

and nothing

is the way

he wants

it.

at the weight pile is Date Rapist  

he’s pristine and rippling

gold skinn’d and baby’s ass soft

chemically chiseled

he stares at himself in the mirror,

robotic and poised, he’s billowing sculpted air

each repetition a mantra

that everything

that is not him

simply isn’t

enough.

Frail & Self-less stands nearby

doe-eyed & deferential

waiting for him to speak

she avoids the meatheads

circling around

trying to cop a better look

to size up her tits and ass

memorizing every

fragile terrified

inch of

her.

Date Rapist finishes his set

he doesn’t change his expression

orders her to the bench

hands her two barbells

and she starts doing what he says

because that’s

what he said

to do.

The Jesus Dude chews his gum loudly

he’s wearing new sweats

and the same grin

every day

he’s always smiling

and he’s  always trying to get

Jesus all over

everyone.

Middle Age Friendly Guy

works his chest nearby  

probably hates his life & masks it  

smiling, chatting it up with anyone,

going to the gym, driving a fast car

and giving the impression

that he’s middle-aged

healthy, talkative, friendly

& enjoys

people.

Hot Bitch is running

she has a sweatshirt tied around her waist

a ring on her finger

and headphones blaring

jammed into her ears

the sweat shirt is for the perverts,

the headphones for the hopeful,

and she’s running because

it helps kill the pain, confusion

and ambivalence of the ring

and why she’s wearing it

in the first

place.

Married Pervert Guy chats it up

with Date Rapist, they High 5 and jive

they talk loudly of sports, bars

and Sports Bars.

Frail and Self-Less stands

close by smiling vacantly

poised,

obedient

and

waiting.

And then there’s me

no less and certainly no more

I’m full of horror at the mirror

in rage when not in control

chiseled and vain

preaching but not about Jesus

near suicide and full of laughter

silently pining for the ambivalent beauties

lusting and lurking,

with all of this at the surface

stumbling–aware, awake and

terrified–out into another day

ready for battle

just like

the rest

of

them.

— East Los CA 7-11-04