is it more
graceful
to say
as of late
i have considered
retirement
rather than
admit
i feel beaten
and
just want to
quit?

as if that way
i am going to
that same farm
stray dogs
are sent to

there will be
plenty
of outside time
we can
mill about
speaking pedantically
on what
could have been
our careers
if we just
wrote
a little better
were
a little more
popular
a little more
known.

a farm for
almost weres
could have beens

and whatever i am.

but
in actuality

it’s
an air hammer
to
the back of the skull
then tossed
down the chute
to be rendered
into
depressive dog food
for the discerning
canine palate.

retirement.

cast away
on the tides
of failure.