Drag 55

Oh no. Can't you smoke outside...like outside outside? And yes I find you very attractive...but must you? You know that leads to lines in your face as you age, right? Granted, I am taking on water at a perilous rate, rapidly sinking into the liquid depth of your eyes,

Want a light?

V

In Threes

They were under the drawbridge waiting out the thunder claps and rain. The rain was intermittent, but the threat was immanent. The winds had picked up. That's what drove them under.

They huddled because space was limited. The four of them trapped in that moment. The jogger asked if anyone had the time. The pregnant lady, said, “ Two fifteen.” 

He thanked her and asked when she was due. She rather reluctantly said “November…” and left it at that. The jogger sensed her unease and withdrew.

The homeless woman let out a moan. It was low and it was long. The other three stared at her, not knowing, or wanting, to approach her. She leaned against the wall for support.

"Ma’m? Are you alright?”, the Student asked.

“Just old, is all”, she muttered. “ Don't bother me…”

"Leave her be”, agreed the jogger.

"She needs help”, the pregnant woman said.

“ Let's at least make her comfortable…”, said the student.

“"Why?”, said the jogger, his impatience growing. He wanted to run!

The weather was growing worse, and there was nowhere to go. The student and pregnant lady gathered some of the bag lady’s bags and propped them up against the wall, then he laid an old blanket on the ground. The pregnant lady helped her bundle up, and the student eased her down upon it. She curled up tight and rocked for awhile, then went very still. The three watched her…breathless. Then she stirred, and they exhaled together. The relief! The student approached her to re-drape the coat, and gagged. The homeless woman had choked on her tongue, and was purple and blue.

“"This can’t be happening,” said the jogger, at the annoyance, “"Fuck! We re going to get hung up for hours! What did we do?! Goddamn self-righteous people. I say we walk away. I'll fuckin' run away! We weren't here!”

"Can't do it.”

”Me neither. “

"Go if you want. We were only three…it won't change the outcome.”

” No it won’t, will it? Sure you can live with that?”

“Can you?”

He didn't answer, he just turned and sprinted into the storm. Gone in no time. 

He died sprinting across 5th. The driver, blinded by the swirling rain, had no time, nor chance to react. He got out and looked at the mangled mass, then got back in the car and left the scene.

 Two hours later, on a treacherous stretch of highway, the storm finally behind him, he would hit an oil slick and skid into an abutment.

They say it happens " in three’s ”…

V

Big Fee

“Okay let’s get dis-ting started”

the fat man wheezed as he billowed over

the brave little bentwood

exhaling as he settles

and settles...and settles

“woooof “ 

moans the courageous little seat

on it’s skinny spindle legs

the room waits

motionless

anticipating

Immediate

disaster,

but the chair……..withstands

collective sigh,

and we begin

to barter in earnest

The big man has this way of leaning

He leans into his words

And he uses his body to massage the message

He’s smooth and fluid

With mass to move

And he knows how to use it

But the fact remains

when he lean the chair 

it creaked for mercy

when he lean BIG, 

the little chair she creak LOUD

like you almost hear the snap a’comin

the snap of splinters

just pushed too far

SNAP

Could only image the calamity

such an occasion

Would stir

But none o' that

is worth the words

‘Cause the wood she held

and the meeting took place.

Because’a that wood

The chair withstood

And I had to kill Felix Q.

 V

March 2006 

quiet

Something just died. I heard it battle in the night, high pitched chatter, a scramble, then shreeks, followed by a long, final rattle. 
It could be a cat, racoon, posum, ...or something else entirely. Targeted and untimely, submissive. 

Maybe it made it back, but I doubt it ... 
just grew quiet too slow.

V

Applegreenpackard 19

Out there in the field at the end of town at the beginning of fields stood a tall man erect but broken, leaning hard against a post that weren’t there hoping for some support even if based solely on a hope – he leaned and he hoped he did not fall over.

A car, it was a Packard, big and green like an apple. Round and shiny like it was just polished. Pulled up to the man and stopped confidently with nary a tick of dust in the air. The erect man, he bent as though beckoned to do so. The assumption would be that the stranger needed directions was lost in the sticks and was seeking a highway.

The two they talked for a quite awhile. Their conversation seeming to pick up some steam as the lean man he leaned well within the open car window and created some agitation, like he might have even gotten a hold of the driver. The car swayed from behind as the driver shifted his weight away from his attacker, the car shifting with him listing to the left.

What is between two men is only between the two men and it is best to mind your position, less you find yourself in the middle. I do know when the lean man disengaged himself from the vehicle, he looked much the worse for wear, like he was stricken, but then I don’t know these facts. I was not there.

Man disappears from his repossessed farm. Is that out of the ordinary? Isn’t his obligation to do so? It’s the law. But he never showed up anywhere after, and that was the crime.

 (from the archives: Dec. 2010)

V

Honk

Tell me something, tell me true, "why are you asking directions?!" You are behind the wheel of this bus, yes?...or do I drive straight ahead to insanity?

Shouldn'tve let you grasp the wheel
Got gas...got brakes... got the steering of my fate. 

All "Tit's free"... just you and me.


Hills ahead...a wild ride to catastrophe.

V

purple sky

V