A friend told me
"you should go downtown to Lestat's -
they do the open-mic thing every Monday;
you should read."

On sunnier days
I told myself
"yeah, sure -
I could do this."

and
"Hey, you're supposed to
do something every day that scares you."

and
"If nothing else,
I could meet other people
who like to
take the time to rhyme."

So
after a couple of months of this
I finally decided
I'd go
even if all I did
was sit and listen.

So Big Monday finally came.

I put on my flip-flops.
Hopped on the bus
and headed downtown.
Walked the last couple blocks
and came upon

a crowd that poured out the front door
and onto the sidewalk,

happily chatting
about the environment
or politics
or how enlightened they all were,
while inside
up on the stage
a pale, thin girl
strummed a guitar
while waxing poetic.

I took all of this in
at about two miles per hour
as I passed by --
didn't break stride
even a little
just kept walking

one block,
(God, that's alot of people)
two blocks,
(they're all too young,)
six blocks,
(and too hip)

before turning back
(good God, woman, grow some testicles!)
to try another fly-by

with the same results:
mission aborted
due to lack
of intestinal fortitude.

Maybe I'll start considering it again
next Monday.

08/04/2009

Posted on 08/04/2009
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