the ringing bell

he hit the snooze alarm
for
nearly thirty years.
he couldn't get up,
get out of bed.
there was just enough
milk
and bread,
the phone worked,
the t.v. too.
there was enough gas to
get the car around
to places
that had no urgency.
sleeping in was a wonderful
thing.
then, finally,
he woke up to a ringing
bell that wouldn't stop,
as most of us eventually
do.