She said 'be present' with a practiced look

She said 'be present' with a practiced look.

Now I’m present in the five-o’clock crawl,

counting the cents in my checkbook

and the cracks in the retaining wall.

The turn signal ticks, a frantic heart

that won't shut off, won't let me merge.

My lungs feel tight, a rusted part,

balanced on some expensive verge.