It is hard not to rate yourself,

compare your existence

to that of the smashed avocado

when wondering how you fit in

a world that gave you a voice,

you see that green filling

spread all over a piece of toast

and you wonder first

whatever happened to the black pudding,

when did the mug of builders’ tea

and the steam covering the waitress’s face

give way to a coffee that costs more

than you ever paid for your first piece of vinyl,

when did it become O.K. to have your name