the embittered man
who hated the world
and everyone in it
so terrified the paper boy
who threw the paper
into the yard
now silently
cringes up the path
up the steps
places the paper
on the mat
before the door
and slinks away
the postman
carefully
puts the mail
into the box
withdraws his hand
before it’s bitten
delivered food
sits for hours
on the mat
before the door
even the birds know
to avoid the house
inside the man
sits in his chair
threw his shoe
at the television
for something he didn’t like
smashed the screen
sat blankly for hours
late afternoon
his sister came
to check on him
saw him sitting
couldn’t tell
if he was alive or dead
it didn’t matter which