He closed one eye and watched the television fade
Called a smile from his memory for a kiss
The other eye closed on the world he’s made
Midweek manufactures a futile bliss

A stack of magazines preserves dust from last Spring
A microwave is the closest he’s been to the ocean
His wedding band melted down into an earring
He plays his favorite movies in slow motion

REFRAIN
“I’m gonna ride my hallelujah horse” he said
“Around the kitchen once and over the bed
Up the walls of the dining room over and around the bed
I’m gonna ride my horse to hell and back again”

There’s a dragon in his laundry bag with socks on
A genie under his bed awaiting his rub
An un-plucked bird on the porch riding a mastodon
A waterfalls in his golf bag at the country club

There’d an angel asleep in his alligator shoes
A peacock perched on the shelf of his liquor cabinet
A wind-up preacher in his basement singing the blues
A rainbow rising from the rook in his chess set

REFRAIN

A diploma fills a frame above the fireplace
When the telephone rings it activates a voice
There’s a noticeable difference between his photo and his face
THE STORY OF O leans on THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOYCE

Taken for granted the cactus seems to grow
The cockatiel wised-up and flew the coop
The gold fish blows air bubbles to the top of the bowl
The neighbor’s dog always finds a place to poop

REFRAIN