Monday, January 01, 2007

performance notes

Dear Marion
how many times
has she clipped on
those cheap plastic
rhinestone earrings
when we were on our way
to some event or other
just last week
I saw the same ones
at a yard sale
"Estate Sale"
the sign said
some folks not much older
than us
gone now
their kids have no use
for such things
just like our kids won't
when we're gone
they're so far away
Jimmy in Canada
Wally in California
our twins down
in South Carolina
trying their luck
at the remodeling business
they won't want
any of our stuff
after we're dead
jeez I hate this shirt
I've been wearing it
for thirty years now
the collar's too tight
and forget my good shoes
Marion giving me hell
for putting on these loafers
I just couldn't tell her
I couldn't have tied those laces
even if I could've gotten on
those damned brown wingtips
my back's so stiff these days
and my feet so swollen
soon all I'll be able to wear
are my bedroom slippers
I guess I should be taking
those water pills the Doc's
been pushing on me
God I hope I die before she does
what would I do
without her
how could I sell
"those" earrings
she'd come back from the grave
to haunt me
look at old Harry over there
he's got his hair dyed yellow
looks like some damned surfer boy
Harry never had yellow hair before
the rest of these people
here today
won't be anywhere ten years
from now I bet
I haven't seen so many
old grey heads
since the last time
I was in church
when was that
last Christmas?
no last year we were
out at Wally's
that's one trip
I won't be making again
Shit I hate those
airline people
they act like you should know
everything
if I did
then why would I ask them?
I hope the intermission's
soon
these hemorrhoids
are killing me
I wonder if Marion
is enjoying herself
truth is
I really can't hear
anything
even with this new
hearing aid
when did
her cheeks get fuzzy
like that?
I can remember
when we met
she was so pink
so smooth
so perfect
now she's...well...
peachy
guess I shouldn't
have eaten that chili
for lunch today
I hope this piece
will be over soon
I gotta hit the can
maybe I should call
Ol' Doc Robinson
and talk to him again
about that...
that prostate surgery
I'm not getting
any younger
and I've got no
sex life
to screw up
anyways
unless
you count
helping Marion
unzip
her red dress
when we
get home
tonight

11 Comments:

Blogger How do we know said...

This is a wonderful poem.. makes it so easy to identify with what is written in this post..
Happy New Year!

1:15 PM, January 03, 2007  
Blogger Oh great One said...

I enjoyed this poem very much!

10:12 AM, January 04, 2007  
Blogger ya-lil-brother said...

Very interesting, hummm where is Jimmy, wonder why there, LOL,
It's very real.

8:54 PM, January 04, 2007  
Blogger Edward said...

I like the stream of consciousness. Is this what the radical settles down to when he is too old to be radical anymore?

12:17 PM, January 05, 2007  
Blogger The Phosgene Kid said...

Free range poetry, very nice! Only thing don't limit yourself to 10 more years - keep up the fight.

It is ok to wear your slippers, I see women wearing them at the store all the time...

3:54 AM, January 06, 2007  
Blogger pilgrimchick said...

That was a really interesting read--I like the theme and how you managed to deal with it from one person's perspective in a variety of ways.

2:37 PM, January 06, 2007  
Blogger Sugarfoot said...

I used to think that being 'grown up' was so cool, now I have so many young people calling me "Sir" and holding doors open for me. Some days I like it, other days, well I'm hoping to get hit by a bus.

12:58 AM, January 10, 2007  
Blogger The Phosgene Kid said...

Most excellent - slightly reminiscent of the song "Tom's Diner"

How are you doing???

10:35 PM, January 10, 2007  
Blogger CCCCppppCCppp said...

Trust me, the moment you realize the bus is bearing down on you, you will be doing anything you can do, to get out of the way.

8:41 AM, January 11, 2007  
Blogger Frank Marcopolos said...

cool, muchos kudos

6:42 PM, January 13, 2007  
Blogger Unknown said...

Wow... depressing or refreshing? What a thoughtful view into a lifestyle that so many people tend to disregard these days...

(My apologies, I can't remember how I found you... It's been awhile, and I just now saw your comment!)

12:42 PM, January 17, 2007  

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