in walked a man in the shape of a man

holding a hat-shaped hat

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

then you arrive 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 a song

and he was broken and smiling

and i was singing along

and we agreed completely agreetly about most things

'til the sun set sweetly

like it does in those paintings

the ones they hang in hotel rooms

the ones they bolt to the wall

as though anyone would want to steal them at all



we talked like children without breathing

'til 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