It takes a while to write

It takes a while to write,
to loosen out the kinks
to bend and stretch the words
to work with pen and ink
to feel the flow and ebb
to start the ending day
to keep the wolves from home
to watch the kids at play
to write about the minutes
when seconds are all you’ve got
to write about the moments
that everyone’s forgot
to think about the happiness
that you know is not there
to waste that burning cigarette
when it’s using up the air
to find the words to begin
and the words to end
the words that go in the middle
and the words to …

and so begins the slow downfall
of a man without a thought
he felt he heard the silent night
and the seven o’clock news
and when the women come and go
his works will lie broken; he will despair
his words will follow, the thoughts will grow

is anyone listening anymore?