A paved path for pedestrians and cyclists
winds by my Shitville retreat

A white line used to divide that path,
to keep walkers & bikers apart

I've had this place,
which used to be my apartment,
for thirty-eight years, but now it's mostly my retreat

And I remember that line

I bike or walk up & down that path
every day when I'm down here,
and make darn sure to choose the appropriate side,
even though the line is - since long - worn away

Maybe it is possible to sort of sense almost invisible parts of
the line in certain places, but that's all

I always stay on the proper side of the white line, however!

It's just a memory of a line that decides my behavior,
but it keeps me stubbornly on the right side!

People who have moved here, say, in the last fifteen years,
have no idea about a white line

They walk or bike wherever they want, and wouldn't you know;
even change sides while moving!

I get really irritated about that!
Is that fucked up or not!?
I let a ghost line decide my movements,
and feel angered when others don't!
Fucked up!