white elephant - webster’s 10th - 2a.doc
brave sisters
rosie always knew
she could do it
always intended to
just wasn't planning
on it so soon
but with the help
of her sisters
they did
the road was hard
and slippery
the forest thick
and matted
when the time came
they had a firm grip
on the situation
and didnt let go
even when there was
trouble ahead with
a man in a rubber suit
but they stuck
to the plan
timing the arrival
at the show together
in a dead heat
dream number fifty-five point seven five
hi you’re dave
ya and you are sheri
I saw you looking
at my ass
I like the way
you move
is that a crime?
you’ve got
a lot of nerve
for a old man
ya sue me
still it is
appreciated
you wanna catch a beer?
I’ve got to go home
to my kids
okay…no problem
still…
ya?
you busy saturday
night?
I am now
wrasslin’
the rednecks
I work with are
all excited this
morning
talking about the WWF
blood
guts
body slams
when I look at them
strangely on break
they are quick to remind
each other that it’s just
a big soap opera
it isn’t real
or is it?
isn’t everything we do
REAL?
just on different planes
of reality?
soap operas are real
those little bags of blood they hide
to suddenly split open are real
the bags of blood
on drip stands
in hospital are real
we get back to work
take parts out
of box A
and put into
box B
that’s my job
all day long
the rednecks are hoping
hulk hogan gets
his ass kicked again
maybe loses some teeth
and what’s for dinner tonight
the pull of hunger is real
and I don’t care about
hulk hogan
I’ve got my own
little TV show
going on in my head
it’s about a guy
wrestling with two hearts
alcoholism
and a need to be happy
the blood and guts
and body slams
of the WWF
is chump change
compared to this
but a soap opera
just the same
it’s better than being
beaten up
for entertainment
jersey girl
she was driving
down to Atlantic City
from Jersey
one hand on the wheel
one hand holding a cell phone
one hand applying
a vibrator
to her squishy parts
we talked about
being framed
different positions
and phone sex
I had a hardon
but didn’t show it
she’s pulling
into the casino
with dying batteries
I wonder
if the parking lot
attendant knows
what that smell is
coming from a
half rolled-down
window?
we hang up
and she plays
with the cards
while I’ll play
with the dice
27 hours
I tried
I really did try
went to work
had a good day
until I stepped on
watery goose shit
out in the parking lot
twisted my ankle up to my jaw
and used every colorful words I could
think of including you mother-something
but I didn’t let it bother me after that or the drive home
changed clothes and started dinner for myself featuring yams
and still clear sailing out on that rolling cloud of well-being
I went out to mail some bills of the most mundane type
stopped at the library to stock up on Berke Breathed
and Bill Watterson for sort of a giggle and snort
came home and answered some calls
settled in to the game on the radio
and there it sat staring at me
the mouth was empty and
wide and waiting to suck
my brain out as I shook
the contents of a film
container into it
I really did try
I tried
