Dumb

he's so good at playing dumb
and i'm so tired of being the wiseguy.

so dumb to think(and not say)
that some boy(not a man or a teacher or a father or a god)
could handle my heart
better than i can
myself.

dumb.

dumb, too, is
that, gee whiz,
life in someone else's apartment,
making her dinners,
taking her checks,
and accompanying her
to other people's weddings,
will, of course,
keep you alive.

i guess that ain't dumb at all, now is it.

dumb keeps you smart when i'm talking.
dumb for goddamn sure keeps you walking.