three times, because he can't enter the building
otherwise. It's a fine line between genius and madness,
and he's walking it right now as he turns the corner
onto 34th street. He doesn't go out much these days.
Thunderbolts and lightning are very very frightening
to most people, but not to him. All that electricity
has finally blown a fuse in his beautiful brain,
but hasn't dimmed his love for radio,
an invention the U.S. Supreme Court
will return him the credit for just three months
before he dies. The one playing in his mind
as he makes his second circuit past the hotel's lobby
has no dials, but receives its signal straight
from outer space. Sir -- the doorman says
as the resident of room 3327 walks in,
but the old man pauses a moment,
waiting for something no one can see, before telling him
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me!
and violently shaking his head.
It's a sad spectacle, and once the episode appears
to have abated, he gently bends down
to retrieve the hat that's rolled to a stop at his feet.

-- Micki Myers