Everyone's Pumped
A poem, Oct 2022.
It's a weekday morning. I'm sitting in my car 15mins early before the shopping mall open. I want to make an exchange of an oversized pants I got as a gift.
I'm watching the cars pull in. I feel the beat before I see the bumpers. It's coming for the lady's sedan. She's smoking her last cigarette.
The same thing happens again with other drivers pulling in.
Everyone's Pumped
Smash that Redbull, 15mins before you hit the car.
Put on the hip-hop, turn up the bass.
Let the music take you and drum you ready.
Check your socials, anything going on local.
Maybe I need to brush my hair,
just another layer of makeup,
after I sip my coffee.
Let me finish this last cigarette,
maybe it will be my last.
I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm ready.
I'm alive. I'm alive. I'm alive.
Let the car run for a little while,
yes, I care about the planet.
But first, let me look at your picture.
Be Real.
Who's real?
And here I go:
it's time to go.
Let me chew that gum.
Let's go.
I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm ready.
I'm alive. I'm alive…
I'm alive?
Daryl Chow Ph.D. is the author of The First Kiss, co-author of Better Results, and The Write to Recovery, Creating Impact, and the new book The Field Guide to Better Results .
If you are a helping professional, you might like my other Substack, Frontiers of Psychotherapist Development (FPD).
