Giant Cactuses From Mars

I woke up, the clock read hours later than I’d thought
The busses were not running—so I ran—‘til I got caught
By a guy who swore he knew me from a bar brawl he had fought
The night before when he was on the town.

But I slipped his grasp and ran to work—I knew I was too late.
The boss had done the rounds I found my stuff packed up in a crate.
Had my last chance as of yesterday today was up to fate.
So I hoisted up my things and turned around.

I tried to sing for quarters on the stairs next to the court.
The audience was large but then their patience was too short.
Soon the crowd was rushing me I fled down to the port
Where ships were sailing in from off the sound.

So the crowd came up behind me as the shipmates filed outside
With guns up on their shoulders—navy men in perfect stride.
Someone pulled a trigger—bullets flew—I dove into a slide.
And fell over the rail I thought I’d drown.

I woke up and pinched myself—the room was dark and still.
My sweat was kind of heavy and I felt a little chill.
But the hour was still early so I had some time to kill.
So I fumbled for a pen to write this down…
And saw flashing colored lights from in the clouds…
And giant cactuses from Mars grew on the ground…

Copyright Tracy S. Feldman, All rights reserved