18

tomorrow
you will be one and a half years sober
as long as you make the next one and a half miles

as long as you don't make
a triumphant return
to The Waveland
or The Den
or Jeanie's

tomorrow you will be 18 months sober
as long as you get through the next 18 minutes

just keep pedaling
take the side streets
stay distracted

don't do what you want to
and try to turn this night into a rock'n'roll video

not gonna happen

best case scenario
your night'll end up like a Tom Waits song
or a Charles Bukowsi story
and people in Des Moines
never heard of them

you're in the wrong town
to try to be interesting

tomorrow
you will be sober 548 days
if you do what you did the last 546 nights

be bored
be boring
be okay with it

tomorrow
if you make it . . .