Retired Dial

 
People say I lost some wrinkles
but I don't see much change except
my eyes have more white than red in them.

They ask me what's wrong? what's right?
Am I the boring old man I'd resented?
They don't say it, friends. Kind of.

They don't say how boring I am
now I walk in a straight line,
spend my summers and winters
on the better side of the jail's walls

but I feel,
some kind of satisfaction inside,
a deviant joy at their unawareness,
what they're missing
and will never understand.

There's nothing more powerful
than a hard and cunning beautiful woman
with a past that keeps her eyes narrow
who is disarmed and surrenders entirely
to you.