SWANS
The industrial park
has a beautiful pond
And a male and female
swan to paddle around
in it.
Each spring, they have eggs
and, in late May, bring forth
an ugly duckling who
becomes their world as it
follows around behind them.
But, after a week or so, each
baby dies.
The official word is muskrats—
not large enough to be a threat
to parents, but big enough to
get the babies.
So, each year, the swans
work hard so that,
for one week,
they can put all their energies
into a little something
not themselves.
And all they know of life and
love is that
A baby is something that comes
in the spring
And goes away
very quickly.
JOHNNY C’S MOTHER
When I was in high school
we were always going to the drive-in
for Cokes and hamburgers.
One of the carhops was a woman
with faded red hair and a
Distinctive and somewhat sexy walk.
One time I heard someone whisper,
“That’s Johnny C’s mother.”
I did not know Johnny C well.
he wore a leather jacket
And greased his hair into a D.A.
We teenagers ate our french fries
and devoured our rock and roll
And noticed that Johnny C’s mother
had some teeth missing.
Even though our mothers were telephone
operators and teachers and store clerks,
I’m glad we never thought to make fun
of her.
I wish that I had known her name and
that teenagers of those days
Had known more about the wonderful
world of tips.
SEMINOLE
In my childhood,
my father had a friend
named Wallace.
I remember he had a
silly, giggly, wonderful
laugh and
he was always hitching
up his tool belt.
Also, there was a woman
named “Yates” who worked
the lunch counter at the drug
store during the day and
sold tickets at the movie
theatre at night.
I have no idea what
happened to Wallace.
Years later, I was told
that Yates was forced to
live with a daughter
who “didn’t really want her.”
Our lives are like
large hoops that touch
in small places.
We turn our heads
and glance at each other
for a few moments, then
remember only giggles
and movie tickets.
UNTITLED
There is a deep chasm into which,
if people are the right type of people,
They can fall.
They become, if they are not careful,
support persons…
Male and female…
Oh, don’t underestimate their importance.
we cannot live without them and they
do, you realize, keep the earth
spinning on its axis.
You never marry them
or take them to bed…
You never kiss them…
except on the forehead
or the cheek…
And you only find them in your thoughts
if you have a problem that needs
to be solved…
But support people fill a need just
like a good dog
or a keg of beer
or a whore
And they are the least demanding
of the lot.
You don’t have to feed them
or buy them or
take them out on the town.
And, when you are through with them,
they just ease very naturally and simply
Out of your life and
back to where they were
when you found them.
And the best part of the whole thing
is that
afterwards
If one of them starts to
drink a little more than usual or
stay out late or
even if this person does something really nutty
with razor blades or something…
You don’t have to worry because
you weren’t involved with him.
Thank God you didn’t do anything
to cause it.
In fact—now tell the truth—
didn’t you hardly know him?