sleeping on a notion

he takes
his teeth out.
sets them in a glass on
the night stand.
removes
his black toupee,
takes a pill
or two
to sleep.
finishes the vodka.
for the dog
he sets the dish down
for him
to finish
the cold stew.
it's been a hard
life
he thinks, staring
out into the alley,
wishing
that there was an
ocean
before him,
a window with a better
view.
before the lights
go dark
he looks across the room
at a picture of his
one true
love on the dresser.
he smiles. it hasn't
all been bad
he believes and sleeps
on that notion, that
it hasn't all been sad.