...and you may keep your development to yourself.

already,
freckles of rust
show on a drain that
has not even been applauded
for its functionality.

do not worry, drain.
you will be recognized
for your acheivements.
and scorned for your failures.

if i were to give you
one word of advice,
it would be to
hide your runoff.

you're built well
for galoshes and
newspaper sailboats,
but drain, you are

different
from the drain
i grew up with:
my home drain,
i could descend
below the grate.

i could have dreams
of losing toys in her
and being lowered into her,
spraypainted fish
caution of the lake.

scraping ice and snow
from you in the winter,
the residents will care
for you, drain, because
they need you.

another moth across the waste...