BLife is a CafeteriaB br br     Life is a cafeteria because br     there are too many dishes br     for one small tray br     and you have to stand in line br     when you’re hungry. br br BDashboard HumilityB br br     Turn the key. br     No lecture br     no homily, br     just a single word: br     'Airbag' br br BAnatomy of ArroganceB br br     A shivering ball of fear, br     wrapped in a crust of pride br     too thick for sharpest arrows, br     huddles alone but well protected. br br     Strutting from a seated position, br     heshe hopes beyond all dread br     that none will ever come to know br     the terror behind the mask. br br BModern NarcissisB br br     Narcissus leaned forward br     to better view his matchless beauty br     and tumbled to watery doom. br br     Beloved America, br     how far can we lean in self adoration br     before our coasts tilt into the seas? br br BComboB br br     In a combo, no one’s supposed br     to hog the lead on every tune. br     So let's all pitch in on the head, br     take a chorus now and then br     and try to keep up with the changes. br br BEternal DustB br br     Cradling a handful of Illinois dust, br     dry residue of sycamore, deer br     and ancient Mississippians, br     I splay my fingers like an eagle's claw - br     and release it to the fickle breezes. br br     A sudden gust of wind br     swirls up an ocher cloud - br     a cyclonic dervish of sand and clay. br     My hand, upraised for a shield br     ever so briefly vanishes - br     veiled by the impatient dust. br br (To the reader: this a kind of suite of previously posted poems. I would be interested in whether you think the combination works) .