at the laundromat

a distortion in the space-time continuum

dali contributes

s l o w
 
 d
  r
  i
   p
   p
   i
    n
    g

mel
           tin
                  g

t i m e

and dante contributes
a sweaty-walled, insidious inferno

brimstone masked
by chem-sweet detergents

fabric softeners that reek of fake flowers
perfume the fiery atmosphere
that's hiding in a wet blanket

a small congregation of the damned
watch their hairshirts
all spinning in the same direction

obliviously
impenitently
unproductively
casually
passing their purgatorial time

thumbing through old magazines
or looking for a four-letter word to fit
tomorrow's crossword