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a man of a cloth of some kind
by Gabriel RicardThe Man is still running up a complicated bar tab
in all those southern towns,
with a two-man police force.
Fifteen hundred guilty optimists in every college battlefield.
That’s something. I guess.
Don’t hassle me with what I should have done,
since the calm pulled the fireworks
into a deep, long and hopefully graceful sleep.
Didn’t see it coming.
Might be my fault on that score.
How on earth was I to know that I was on the fast-track
to destroying a little more than half of what I hold dear?
So much for being smart.
It’s high-time people knew the truth about that.
I’ll be a man of a cloth of some kind.
It’ll be health issues only
that cause me to sweat profusely,
and fall asleep in the middle of a key sentence.
No one is going to spend a large fortune
emanating city lights from their small living room.
So, ask the simple question,
and I’ll give you an easy answer,
about being pretty sure that I can do it on my own.
Getting the obvious back
isn’t just for the youth
that have no idea what they’re in for.
I remember the day I traded in my value.
I was twelve,
and I just couldn’t lie to myself anymore.
Grew up fast,
but not in any formal, useful ways.
The eternal movie theater was just a lot sweeter
to the emotional touch.
Label this information as you see fit.
Some just shake their heads,
and whip empty, razor-sharp collection plates
towards the whites of my bubble wrap eyes.
My steadiest friends only surprise me
when the decade has become decrepit,
and I’m too indisposed to flash the photo
of the shopping list of those things
that I need to keep my faith in.
Even the hand-gestures are probably the same.
But after awhile almost anything can seem new to me.
I’m no longer treating that idea
the way my remorse thinks I ought to be treated.
I’m just happy for any occasion
that allows me to laugh,
until people begin to stare.
They’re welcome to watch,
and they’re welcome to remember me as a face
from whenever they think the easier time might have been.
12/30/2011 Posted on 12/30/2011
Copyright © 2024 Gabriel Ricard
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by A. Reed on 12/30/11 at 08:32 PM You know this reminds me of something that happened the other day (laughing for any occasion yada yada staring)...
My dad cracks a joke he asks if we have room in the freezer so I reply yes. He says well let's stop and pick up that coon that is some good eating. Yes, roadkill. Awesome.
Several hours Later...
I am in the freezer section at the grocery store racking my brain...what was it dad wanted? He asked if we had room in the freezer wtf was it...
When it dawned on me after about two minutes of laborious thought I laughed so hard I stumbled in frozen peas and I think I almost gave the two old ladies watching a stroke.
I am in |
| Posted by Joe Cramer on 12/31/11 at 03:15 PM ...outstanding..... |
| Posted by Lori Blair on 01/05/12 at 08:31 PM Your mind is amazing how it ticks..and tocks..I wonder if you have a book out yet? if not..you should! Brilliant work! |
| Posted by Laura Doom on 01/11/12 at 11:54 PM I don't think so -- men of cloth are generally deluded and morally corrupt; you have remorse on your side, which is not necessarily a comfort, but it does make for infinitely better stories... |
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