the walking dead
walking their dogs
under the oppression
of texas summer
vacant expressions
as they are pulled
from each new scent
a look of discontent
and abject regret
etched in exhaustion

while a fool pens
another ode to indifference
with a scenic view
of the muddy lake
trying to cool off
before reentering
the reactor core
seeking the elephant foot
responsible for melting
hope into a gray muck

the older i get
the more i notice
the collective
dissatisfaction
as the wheels roll off
this great state of unrest
every new annoyance
becomes another boulder
as the hill simply steepens