a stroll around montreal (really i do hate this)

(its nice and cold in here!)
air conditioning coolant
dripping on my cheek

(you need a tan!)
blistering blinding humid sun
burning my pale office building skin

(lets eat!)
poisoned fast food
leaking chemicals into my blood
(really i do hate this)

(where to?)
reflecting pools
with green god-like statues
they tower over us below
the pools full of cigarette butts

(its busy here today)
men on benches
newspapers covering their bodies

(i love you!)
abandoned cats purring
in love with a stranger
closing their eyes
being scratched under the chin
fleas running loose
and up your sleeve

(save me!)
tourists flocking to commercialized churches
donating your every travel dollar
to save the evil sinners
(really i do hate this)

(smile!)
a smirk falls across my face and an eyebrow rises
photographs taken
of tired landmarks
planted urban trees
and foolish gardens
i see a plastic grocery bag caught in the tree above
(really i do hate this)

(want a treat?)
plastic shoed prostitutes getting off
on the thought of nursing your dollar
my belly filled with ice cream
i too can barely walk straight

( i dont have a job today!)
calculating my moves
dodging street kids asking for change
penniless and urban
instead take my leftover sandwich
i wont miss it
you will survive another night because of me

(nice place you got there!)
rain soaked carpets
couches thrown upside down
soggy cardboard boxes
new housing developments for the money
castaway buildings for the poor

(what about your past?)
fire trucks roar past us
missing my red painted toes by an inch
screaming sirens fueled by my tears
(really i do hate this)

(what now?)
arriving home
with our jail-like view
flower boxes banned
urban interior parking lot with garage doors opening at 3am
naked woman changing as i wash my dishes
suds racing down the drain
polluting my world yet again
(really i do hate this)

(click!)
my television set is glowing
erasing time
friendships disappearing
choking life from your soul
solitude and empty roaring laughter
(really i do hate this)

(sweet dreams!)
removing my contact lenses now
i cannot see reality, but this is ok
scrubbing at my skin and washing off my glamour
clean straight white teeth
colored toffee hair pulled back in a knot
consuming vitamins and birth control pills
(really i do hate this)

(are you still awake?)
satin sleeping masks placed over tired eyes
cats curled up purring
sweatshop ready-to-wear pajamas
keeping me warm and toasty
good night world
(really i do love this)