Something broke.
Now
I can’t find
My instruction manual.
I remember
Leaving it
In my bottom desk drawer
Amongst the other manuals.
It’s not there.
However, I did find
Instructions for my
Dust buster.
I’m sure my mother
Referred to my manual;
She was always attempting to
Fix me.
The manual recommended:
Clean underwear
Short hair
Brushed teeth
Erect posture
Fixed smile
Closed mouth
Unblinking subservience.
Perhaps I lost my manual
During the sixties.
When my hair grew long, and
I turned to the dark side.
Nonetheless
I’m positive I had it
When I moved to Occidental
Eager to fit in.
Now something is broken
I’m bekloppt, and
Sure could use
My instruction manual.
My kids say:
“Locate your manual in the cloud.”
That requires a serial number
Which I can’t find.
There’s always prayer
But, after all these years,
My faith is fallow
Perhaps that’s what’s broken.
