Curb tilting left, he sways right,
Too full of thoughts in a waning daylight.
Just the usual conundrums.
An out of tune bass drum,
pounding a solo through the fog.
Stopped at a diner, needed a primer, before his mind starts to fray,
Sits at a table: tea, 2 sugars – one cream; then, without hesitation, he says,
“Ain’t no contemplation, that I haven’t pondered.
No reasons for creation, t’haven’t crossed my mind.”
Stirs his tea, drinks it all
“There’s a bar up the street, I’ve boots on my feet,
and a cold beer’ll clear my restless head.”
Clears his throat, his hands fall
“‘Cuz everyone’s got their heartaches,
lost family and friends,
Times we wish we could change,
things for which we need to make amends.
So find yourself a bar, a beer, and a song
And remember, life’s better, when everything’s gone wrong.”
The old man, they thought he was, tossed down his change and left
And for years the folks pondered,
What the man,
With his heart in his hand,
Had said.
-MTH 2/26/10
