Pardon Me

Pardon me 
if I wear my brain 
on the 
OUTSIDE 
of my head 

It's just so sunny out, 
but not too sunny, 
not so sunny that it should get burnt, 
just sunny enough to 
take in some Vitamin D, 
and to warm up 
and not feel quite so clammy 
or boxed-up 

There's a little breeze, 
but not too breezy, 
not so much that it would 
dry out 
or fall out 
and blow away, 
down the street 
like someone's hat, 
or a kerchief of a boa, 
snaking along the surface of the asphalt 
like drifts of snow tend to do 
in winter 

I hope you don't mind 

if I wear my brain 
on the 
outside 
of my head 

It makes some people feel 
uncomfortable 
I don't mean to use poor manners 

Don't look at it 
if it makes you queasy 
sometimes it gets so needy 
I just have to let it out so it can stretch 
and breath 
and unwind 
a bit 

Oh, no 
I promise it won't unwind entirely 
like an intestine 
I like to keep it all together anyway 

If it were to fall apart it would be 
in gossamer synaptic strands 
that will take to the sky like a tiny spider on a single strand of web 
not all wormy or gummy or 
sausage-casing-ish 
like my entrails would 
if I were to 
spill my guts out 

Would it be alright 
if I wore my brain 
on the 
outside 
for just a while? 

Don't worry, 
it doesn't bite 
and it doesn't have any thing too catchy 

If anything, 
I'd appreciate 
your being gentle 
and careful 
and kind 
around me 
if I don my mind 
like a wig 
or a fedora 
outside 
of my head- 

You see, 
it's quite fragile 
and delicate 

I know it may seem 
offensive to you 
but it's far more vulnerable to you 
than I bet 
you are 
to it. 

Pardon me 
if I wear my brain 
on the 
outside 
of my head 

It will probably climb up 
out there 
whether I take it out or not 
It's very needy, 
I guess 

Without it sitting above 
my hair 
I sometimes don't feel 
completely dressed 

You don't think 
I'll be arrested 
if I wear my brain 
on the 
OUTSIDE 
of my head?