Joining the Workforce

Going to grad school

and teaching full-time

and trying to make friends

is a little like

learning to juggle plates

while breathing fire

if you had one arm

and were twisted in a circle

so that every time you

took a breath,

you burned your feet.

What I Do Instead

When I sit across from you I focus on the names of state capitals

Since I don't know the names of state capitals I transition to filling

my mouth with pumpkin bread and almond pastry and blueberry danish,

ensuring that instead of a retort I concentrate on the number of times

to chew my food for perfect bolus digestion.

I find myself empathizing and drawing inspiration from a bird

outside our window that just happened to smash against the glass

and then laid in the grass looking stunned and confused.

In fifteen minutes it flew away, and I draw hope from that.

These are all probably not good signs.