December 2, 1996

did you ever wake up at night

screaming and in a cold sweat

because Bill had taken the world over

and ruined it

and Steve, a different Steve,

had made it all right again

except that it was all wrong

or even worse

suddenly confronted your past in the broad light of day

and felt the shadow descend

as you realized your best days were gone

with your life less than half expired

and nothing in the world you did

would ever make it better