The boy's problem with schoolwork was
“work,” not “school.”
He did his work as late and quickly as
he could, the fool.
One time he left the work too late for
any hurry,
and with nothing to turn in, felt a
world-ending worry.
All he could think was “damn, I'm in
deep shit.”
He would have bet cash that Maitreya
had hit,
But though he was grounded for five or
six weeks,
Life simply went on with a couple of
tweeks.
The boy met a girl; the two thought it
seemed right.
Their joining made him feel like “let
there be light.”
Then, girlfriend shortened herself to
friend,
and the boy thought the world was sure
to end.
For one day, he put the world on
suspension,
Headphones blaring music he'd rather
not mention.
Tears and spring rains became summer,
then fall.
This ending was no Armageddon at all.
Soon the boy got employed, although
having a job
Did not make him care. He still
dressed like a slob.
He hated his customers more again than
his bosses.
Only on bathroom breaks did he give any
tosses.
Since he barely came in, he was duly
let go.
He thought “Fenrir is here” when
they first let him know,
Like a crash with Nibiru, or at least
coming near.
So intense were his feelings of shame
and of fear,
But life just went on, past these
setbacks and others.
Pestilence went unseen, as did all of
his brothers.
As the boy moved along, his suspicions
kept mounting
That nothing he'd do would stop long
counts from counting.
Now he tours life's disasters with nary
a care,
With his eyes off the road and his
hands in the air,
and if on he meanders, head made so, of
mutton,
Someday it's real likely he'll press
the red button.
