Nein One One

[The random words I used for this poem are in bold type]

I was a shy and guarded young bank exec
burning out my esophagus on breath mints and Marlboros
with little reverence for those not upwardly bound.

Each morning I downed two scrambled eggs,

three tabs of Concerta with high octane Starbucks

to keep distraction at bay,

commuted to work absorbed in audio books

on motivation, risk, and investment,

trusting fully in the omniscience

of finance gurus

and their high-stakes investment advice

until that cold morning when two wild geese

crashed into my office tower

and the resulting explosions that did not occur

reminded me of my unfinished life

and the irreversible damage i might not inflict

upon the precious and fragile world.