my stupid laptop life – Tristan Geary

November 5, 2025

why is it in olden times people would catch a train,
leave their job, start another job,
join the army, write a letter,
lean up against a post,
watch their imprint dry on a warm rock by the quarry in july,
but i think about why i’m not a miner? mining in a mine.

but never, not once, have i got up early and gone to a job for a company, worked hard, i mean, got really stuck in, to the point where time dissolves, had a modest lunch and then got back to it, right back to the zone, even more immersed, to the point where the world is just concepts and vague colored shapes, then came home and had a hearty dinner (the world kindling back into focus), after which, plonked down on the couch, undid the button on my pants, patted my belly and said something like ‘nothing like an honest day’s graft!’ and then, after migrating to my bed and losing myself in two chapters, dog-eared my paperback, set it on the bedside table, rolled over, and went to sleep.

so you’re saying you
dog-ear your paperback
set it on the bedside table
turn off the light
roll over
and just go to sleep?

and it just works?
and you don’t think twice?
and it’s all okay?
and you fall asleep right away?
and you xyz
and you zzz
and you think of what?
and you think of what, nothing?
and you count sheep?
and you fall asleep?
and you start dreaming?
and you think of tomorrow?
and you think of today?
and you think of yesterday?
and you don’t sweat?

what might i do,
what i certainly never will do,
what i could be doing,
for example, not this.

now that an hour has gone by
i can tell myself ‘job done.’
you’ll never see me at this link again.