[Cowardice demands I type this here]

Cowardice demands I type this here: yes, loud-mouthing's
easy drunk on fandom, and my choice of Dark Uniform
rebukes false waahs, re: costume prejudice in the workplace

As if the costume didn't fool even me. To answer the direct
whine: I'm a bookstore manager, I never wanted to be district manager,
I'm not qualified to be the district manager, that's not my point

It was their point; it shocked them I'd said so
before they had the chance to say so
surprised them a bookstore manager who never bought a district manager's uniform knew

I would wear a costume to a District Manager convention
so I'd be notorious, the bookstore manager in a District Manager uniform
I'd overhear later conversations, who the fuck was that guy?
I'd say, him? he's The Dark Uniform of Bookstore Managers

(When I'm anxious I'm anxious I'm anxious)

When I'm anxious I'm anxious I'm anxious;

when I'm not anxious I'm anxious I'm not;

I keep my work email open on weekends;

It's been five minutes since I checked my statcounter;

I'm reading a novel; it's captivating;

the book-length sentence hinges on sloppy semi-colons;

I'm anxious I penalize costume at content's cost.

[Is there DNA in earwax, snot, tears and/or shit?]

Is there DNA in earwax, snot, tears and/or shit?
Squeegy eyes, weegee ears, de-mucus nose, Fleet:
subsequent evidence on:
keyboards
light switches
doorknobs
the back of your lover's neck her thumb in your asshole and all she touched next
office-chair armrests
water-fountain thumb-plungers
grocery carts
ATMs
elevator buttons in buildings sad with the already ill
shards in basement of a just discovered crime scene
not
the inside-side cuff of the long-sleeved shirt where all us compliant deposit?
And when do I think my extracts will have evidentiary value anyway?

Work Today, part one

Dear Jeff, after I asked you to recklessly break copyright last semester as a once-in-a-lifetime I-owe-you-forever favor, and I don't forget that your sole condition was that last semester would represent the only time I would ask you to do so, and I respect that, I really respect that, and I feel bad about this, but I need to know I can count on you again, I can't get sabbatical next semester to finish my book unless I teach this class this semester and if I don't finish my book I don't get tenure and I can't teach this class this semester unless you violate every common sense fence of what constitutes copyright. I'll never ask again, I promise - and I know I promised you last semester I'd never ask you again - but I need you to stream this pirated copy of the biggest Hollywood blockbuster currently in movie theaters. Best regards. P.S. I know you've waived hundreds of dollars in recall fines for me before and I know I agreed to be responsible for all fines hence, but there's a $250 recall on my record, I know it was recalled but my needs have priority over whoever it was who recalled it. There's a block on my record because of the fine, could you waive it please? Thanks. I still owe you that lunch.

[I am never asked to justify my decision to not eat poultry]

I am never asked to justify my decision to not eat poultry
Am asked why I need to justify that decision, asked please don't
Eat chicken or don't, why I do either or both or neither keep to myself
People - a loved one once scolded me yesterday - don't care my reason is unethically aesthetic and
     illogically adroit
Go ahead, please, eat what you want, eat pig
I do not claim superiority much I will not eat a pig
Eat poultry too, chicken turkey vulture goose crow

Twice I walked out into the world today
At no time did willows bow or clouds coagulate formations only possibly held in that 4:30 to 4:31 PM light
The cherry tree's bark does not taste of honey
The back of your neck does taste of salt, thanks
What I mean to say doesn't mean what I say is what I meant to and I never could
No one asks me to justify my poetry no matter how much I beg
This is why I rarely talk about what I will and won't eat
Once chicken turkey vulture goose
Crow still