in walked a man in the shape of a man

holding a hat-shaped hat

and he held up two fingers and said "how many fingers?"

and i said, "peace man, that's where it's at."

i said, you are what you do in order to

prevent becoming what you're busy not doing

and if you do do it truly

and you arive at it newly

then in the end you are absolved

and the problem of heaven is solved

and the man broke into a smile

like he was breaking into song

and he was broken and smiling and I was singing along

and we compleed agretely about most things

'til the sun set sweetly like it does in those paintings

the ones they hang in the hotel rooms

the ones they bolt to the walls

as if anyone would want to steal them at all

and we talked like children without breathing

until i stopped this lady as she was leaving

and i said, excuse me

but do you know what time it would be

if we were on mars?

and she held up her hand

like a crossing guard stopping the cars

and she said

five in the morning

in walked a man in the shape of a man holding a hat-shaped hat