Panic in the Streets
I left the house once
without my water bottle
how would I save
the dwindling environment
use my clean hands to cup water
from some grundy washroom tap
would I dehydrate
with the city spread out around me
parched and dusty
I left the house once
without my credit card
what would I do
if I had to buy a cup of coffee
a bottle of water
what would I do
if I had to prove to that I was of some value
without proof of my credit-ability
I left the house once
without my cell phone
out of touch with reality
who would think
I was worth talking to without it
what would I do
if I had to tell the time
would you believe me
if I told you I missed your call
because I left my cell at home
would you forgive me
I left the house once
without my digital camera
I didn’t know where to look
my eyes had to see things as they were
not as compositions to be captured
what if I saw the defining moment
of the collapse of our civilization
or a cat sneezing
I might as well be blind
I left the house once
without my gun
I didn’t feel safe
there was a threat in every glance
how could I defend myself
how could I define myself
without at a spray of bullets
to protect me to project me
I felt naked vulnerable defeated
This started one day when I did leave the house without my camera – not that I see myself as a photographer but I do like get images for the blog. This forgetting happens as I have two shoulder bags I switch between – one when I’m going to taking my travel mug with the other for lite days (LOL). The cat sneezing is a nod to the fact that pictures of cats get more hits than any other picture.
I don’t have a water bottle though, but often have my travel mug – saving ten cents on a coffee was a joy till I found I was paying for a size larger than the mug held & after making them measure it twice gave up on the savings & just order the size I want & dump into the mug, hence wasting a cup & that leads to the downfall of the ecology. Sorry folks.
Then I imagined other items to leave the house without – credit card isn’t so vital to me but to be without one of my many coffee cards – Tim Ho’s, $bucks, etc means skipping coffee that day – same with my optimum card. When I have them it takes long enough to find the one I’m going use anyway. leaving without my phone is no big deal though I do use it as my watch – not knowing the time is no big panic.
autumn altar
Leaving house has become such a job these days though – once upon a time you just put on your coat & out you went – now one has to make sure they have the proper plastic, cellphones, headphones, iPod, Kindle, camera – & if it’s a long day the required cords for recharging these vital life-saving devices.
Like my pictures? I post lots on Tumblr
The trials and tribulations of modern life! Cool post, buddy. Much love and naked hugs! 🙂
the first part of this reminds me of a time 6 years ago when I came out of a black out state of drunkenness beside the ganaraska river, I had been so thirsty so I drank from the dirt river but it was quenching.