Man Unbothered
by Dan Senn


He lived on the 7th floor
behind super locks
caged windows
shades opaque
curtains knitted tightly.

With faulty plumbing
surging power
broken elevators
puking stairwells
leaks from above.

Church mice (either side)
poisons and roach hotels
gun shots from below
a cat named Lillian
a curfew.

Bike by the door (his lightning)
shooting through
target practice
thrice daily
the scrubby terrace below.

The children gone
with the stores
small talk, clutches
daydreams
caned grandmas.

But, he had the internet
rent low
lucky in escape
ears stuffed
he could produce.

It was
really
all
quite
good.

One day
after a bath
the purest water
a touch of whim
things shifted.

Cotton from ears
a neighbor roused
the toilet filled
elevator creaked
baby cried outside the door.

In weeks
locks removed
hike bike below
curfew over
sun bleached his favorite photo.

Stores opened
man busked in B-flat
fat people argued
children triked about
grandpas spread out like lemmings.

The shooting o're
weeds clipped and nipped
house scrubbed
forgetting himself
he ventured into the night.
———
Written in Prague, not about Prague,
around April 7, 2009.
Rediscovered February 12, 2023.

DS 021223
©Dan Senn 2023

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