They gave me a green ring at the DMV
the man said “son, someday this old ring will fall off”
I shoved it deep down my finger
until it wouldn’t move in any direciton.

A while later, examined the streets
flashed my ring at any gender opposite of me.
“Let’s run and sled and dance in the pouring rain”
But not get wet.
I’m always getting soaked.
“Yeah, yeah. Go ahead, I’m lonely”
It’s all good.
I swear it’s fine.

I went back to the place where I met my future wife.
And I said “hey, where’d you get that peacoat?
I saw you the DMV, you were begging for change.
with a cardboard sign that read ‘anywhere but here’”
She just shrugged and turned away.
Her face was a twenty-fourth century ice cap.
I guess mine was too.

That day, the DMV was packed
With green rings and red fingers.
Nervous faces, queasy stomachs.
Trash cans lined up beside the rows
Of dissapointed faces.

The man at the counter just looked at me
Flashed a consolation smile, as if to say
“Where to next?”
Anywhere but here.