Threatening Deadlines

If I physicalize
my problems, my deadlines, my duties,
my weekend plans,
we can Greco-Roman wrestle
or
I can threaten to dock their pay.
Material things
can be nailed down,
tied down, chained down,
given new cement shoes.
You can talk to them,
face to face,
offer them a cigarette,
take one for yourself
and blow smoke in their faces,
offer them a drink, a cola,
and refuse to let them leave the room
for the bathroom.
You can stroke their hair,
and tell them
you only have so much time,
so it's time,
for them to talk.