Paving the Hellroad

Well, at least you meant well
Intended to get sober
Quit smoking
Start yr novel again–
Say yes next time
When he asked you to dance.

Cut to:
Tomorrow morning
& how did that work out?
Another stone laid flat
For the head or for the feet
With an epitaph etched inches deep:
“Here lies Les Moore
“No Les, no more.”
Cemetery Hill is covered o’er
With such pretty pretty pavement
A Spoon River Highway
Spread from here to Hades.

Be better
Eat right
Pray, luv, etc
Don’t die don’t die don’t die
With every intention of enduring
Forever–
Emphasis on this Durance Vile
A congame to sell soapsudz unto Eternity
When even soft drinks have a Mission Statement
Preset with the requisite regrets
Those are the real Concrete.

I’ve decided to unfetter
To jettison & otherwise defenestrate
That which doth not serve me–
Vowing now to live a cleaner,
Leaner, simpler, straighter, dryer,
Carb-free, grateful, meaningful, rested,
Invested–
So pure it floats
So help me Dog.

That’s the plan anyway.