“I Wanted to be Useful”

“I Wanted to be Useful”

I wanted to tear mirages of bridges

and sadness lacks this commitment

in trouble with the oil rigs

steel hands, fearful bangs:

the trust of another summit

when you dine and dive

crush a cave,

dwell with ne’er-do-wells

drown and you’re done

your work day is done

it’s all the regrets of champions

it’s dining on ice

the kisses eclipse the glass

lipstick on your thighs

there’s too many thoughts

I wanted to smack the meat of bridges

I wanted to be alone

bear fisticuffs in the mirror of badges.

Tags: I wanted to be useful, Nicholaus Patnaude, poem, poetry