I am the devil’s anvil
he beats on me daily
it doesn’t hurt all that much
you get used to it
and the pounding
drowns out all
the white noise
of all those people yammering
even though you tell them
to keep still
they haven’t caught on to what I
know – that to shorten a
conversation, just agree
to whatever people say
no
they are a little thick-necked
in that regard
but him
he knows
he just keeps his trap shut
and pounds away
like there’s no tomorrow
Paul Smith is a civil engineer who has worked in the construction racket for many years. He has traveled all over the place and met lots of people. Some have enriched his life. Others made him wish he or they were all dead. He likes writing poetry and fiction. He also likes Newcastle Brown Ale. If you see him, buy him one. His poetry and fiction have been published in Convergence, Missouri Review, Literary Orphans and other lit mags.