Thought Three Thoughts

He said, “You stick with me.

You stick with me and we’ll be quite alright.

You stick with me and we’ll be quite alright. Now, let’s go. The line’s moving.”

Me—I didn’t say nothing.

I didn’t say nothing at all’s what I said.

I stood hunched, I stood stiff, thought three thoughts to myself, and I didn’t say nothing at all’s what I said.

He said, “You stick with me.

You stick with me and we’ll be quite alright.

You stick with me and we’ll be quite alright. Now, let’s go. The line’s moving.”

I didn’t step forward at all in the line.

I looked up, my lip stiff, thought three thoughts to myself, but I didn’t say nothing at all’s what I said.

I bit hard as he said, “Have you all to myself”, and I thought I don’t love you at all’s what I thought.

I stepped up as he said, “Line’s been moving so slow”, and I thought I can’t stand you at all’s what I thought.

I drew breath as he said, “You’ve been quiet too long”, and I said, “I won’t miss you at all when you’re dead. Now, let’s go. The line’s moving.”

He didn’t step forward at all in the line.

He looked vacant, aloof. Were there thoughts they’d been shelved. So I didn’t say nothing at all.

He said, “You stick with me.

You stick with me, we’ll be quite alright. Now, let’s go. The line’s moving.”