monkey
and so this is life
picking his nose in the corner
sits a monkey
thinking to himself
is the moon coming out tonight
or does a day like this
go on
like the incense in the window
burning a hole through the heart
of a lonely child
whose name I can't recall
because if it does
I refuse to remove my shades
in fear of what my eyes may reflect
and if the ashes of life
fall where they may
then we'll quietly watch
tiny men sweep them away
and leave behind such a heavenly scent
and ask ourselves why does a monkey
sit in the corner and pick his nose
while tiny men sweep away ashes
of a lonely child's heart
Copyright © 2002 by Shannon Gleeson