Sadness

Waking up to the realization
finally
that there are 45-year-olds
who think that Bon Jovi
Still rocks

Rake at the Gates of Hell

"We watched out friends grow up together
And we saw them as they fell
Some of them fell into Heaven
Some of them fell into Hell"
-Shane McGowen

I don't think there was ever a time
You didn't know just what to do
I remember you told me once
about a time you were handed currency
and asked for a favor
some hands, a truck and dirty Chicago streets
and you made it happen

I've always admired that about you
Whenever things seem impossible
There's your solution

Dangerous Habits follow you around
a rake at the gates of hell
but you're a step ahead, seeing
the exit before it becomes too late

Maybe it was the cigarettes
but that fell outside the control
that might be why you quit; that need to be in control
never letting anything else
dictate what you do, decide
you ARE the decider

I wonder sometimes
how much respect you can have
for anyone else
you're stronger, more aware, more in touch
and can remove yourself
make a decision when we're all frantic
and afraid

I bet you touched the stove with impunity
in spite of warnings, and several burned fingers

Elvis vs. Kiss

"Every metal band has to have its name written in lightining bolts on their album covers."
-Wes Chester

I break the packet of salt in half
and dump it on the booth table

I tell my cousin that Elvis is a phoney

I tell her that Elvis is fat and overweight and a disgrace to music and she,
who owns elvis albums and posters and knows the words to his fucking songs
believes me

Elvis never grew old
even if they can prove it on video
(everybody knows it isn't real)
Elvis is young
and he lives forever

I wish I had a mask to wear
I wish that I could have my name explode in light
as a million drugged youth scream out my immortality

Meeting the Poet (revision)

Old Irish man looked up at me
and asked what i meant
Face gnarled up like whiskey smells

I couldn't think and tried
to cover my paper
forget the white poem

he asked again and read aloud
"Cotton floating down
On polar bears"

Shook his head
Shuffling my paper
To the bottom of the pile