Killing Mr. Flemming

 

 

He referred to me as,

“Mr. Robinette”

This was important because I learned

condescension is only effective if you allow it to be.

 

He had a picture, not a poster, a real picture

of an ostrich with its head in the ground,

and he would point to it and say,

“That’s you Mr. Robinette. That’s how you go through life.”

 

There is an alternative,

a secret passage

that leads down two roads,

six, and then a thousand.

 

I used to think none of this had anything to do with history.

I was too busy thinking about girls to make the connection,

to see how we slowly entered back into the dark ages

feeling nothing and feeling it comfortably.

 

We began somehow, like a switch,

and ran like hell to now, and then for no reason

sat down.

“That’s how you go through life.”