Joy is boring
the calmness you need to have
once you get it
is so underwhelming
compared to the ego blast
from challenge and conflict
joy is boring
as you walk in the morning
near the stones
and the cold Earth
as men hand you fliers
for the candidate
as you climb the stone steps
with gang graffiti spraypaint
and just see them
as colorful designs
joy is boring
You walk the circle at the top of the hill
you climb down
as your stomach sinks
with the sensation
of loss of elevation
and you see more spraypaint
this time it says
Defend the Forest
in capital black letters
and you walk the wrong way
and you can't get through because of the ravine
joy is boring
as you walk home with Green Tea
and look at the old cop
sitting like Buddha
with a yellowed beard
and smelly nostrils
in his oily black jacket
on the porch
smoking
you had smelled the smoke
a house away
and didn't know where it was coming from
until you looked down
thinking that's a good place to sit
and saw him
glaring at you
with a star pinned to him
almost like he knew you were coming
joy is boring
the Chinese women
tending their garden
that looked up when they heard you singing
know.