Tuesday, November 2, 2010

A Day in Limbo

I'm very pleased with how this came out. It was written as something to include in the college's New Tricks 2011 magazine, as well as something to potentially read aloud.


A Day in Limbo

A man awakens.
The sun shines brightly in his eyes.
He lets go of the beige pillow he had held to his breast.

He eats breakfast.
He takes a hot shower and dresses.
He prepares for another day of work sitting in a sterile, beige cubicle.

He feels comfortable.
The weather is calm and mild today.
Lawn mowers growl and beige birds chirp as he gets into his sedan.

He works easily.
None of his duties really challenge him.
The paper stack moves from one beige tray to the other without issue.

It’s lunch time.
He unpacks his PJ sandwich and water.
A beige-shirted coworker chats about the weather, sports, and his favorite candidate.

Work is over.
He punches out at five to vote.
The beige ballot warmly instructs him how to properly fill in a circle.

He returns home.
He sits at the television with beer.
He sips the beige liquid and sees his candidate lost by a landslide.

He’s feeling lonesome.
He decides to take Sam out tonight.
He picks up the beige receiver and invites Sam to the local cinema.

Sam arrives late.
The two hurry in to get seats.
The flashing images cast twisted shadows across the beige seats that surround them.

It’s soon over.
He can’t recall much on second thought.
The two leave the beige-brick theater and walk to Sam’s car together.

His blood boils.
He tries to pluck up the courage.
He is suddenly pecked on the cheek and Sam’s beige car rumbles off.

He walks inside.
The evening has crept into his home.
He undresses and crawls into bed, hugging the beige pillow to his breast.

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