Page 54 - Contrast2006

SLOW/STOP Martin Camper

In fluorescent-orange, synthetic
I go out-I go out in asphalt-
colored jeans - I go out
with the sun and stand-

a line of cars before me, behind
me another line, another guy - Frank,
who's got two kids, but five years back
his wife took I em both and left-
he holds a faded, rusted sign like mine-
we wave our hands and nod
to each other, so one line goes
then stops - the other one now slow.

Today we're tearing
up the road, jack-hammering
the pavement to bits-
if only we could take a key
and jack up this whole damn place-

the drilling goes through the ground,
through your sore legs right to your skull,
from your skull to your teeth - reminds
you of the dentist, the dentist with his drill,
the drilling like the novocaine used to numb
your tooth, but numbs your whole head,
makes the hole in your tooth feel so big,
feel big and swollen - they say it numbs you
real good, but you can still feel it when
the dentist reaches in and yanks it out-

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