Sometimes I think the gods
Deliberately keep pushing me
Into the fire
Just to hear me
Yelp
A few good
Lines

They just aren’t going to
Let me retire
Silk scarf about neck
Giving lectures at
Yale

The gods need me to
Entertain them

They must be terribly
Bored with all
The others
And I am too

And now my cigarette lighter
Has gone dry
I sit here
Hopelessly
Flicking it

This kind of fire
They can’t give
Me