lonnie2 Poetry (22)

canyon blues

there are a couple ways to look at it
traveling alone that is
without a mate
unencumbered by partner, passenger or plan
on one hand you can go when & where & stay early or late
hike a canyon or pee beside the road anytime you like
or you can stop at a strip joint in atlanta or a church in duluth
or both if your timing is right
then again someone on for the ride has it’s advantages
someone to make sandwiches and tune the radio
someone to remember what you forget
someone to hold your hand down that canyon
someone to strip for you outside that church in duluth

“the flow”

i wanna go down to where the river runs deep
check out the shore and talk to the folks
maybe learn some lingo only locals speak
there must be sights and smells that are one of a kind

never the same, it changes each day
their hawkin’ fish over there with the smell of a whore
the shop across the way requires a password
don’t expect a refund or return

thousands of tourists won’t call it home
but they long to come back and never now why
an arm wrestling machine will bust your nut
in a box taking pictures you can show off your butt

the beer flows cold at the pub on the wharf
mystery meat is the special of the day
let your conscious be your guide
but ride the roller coaster first

i wanna go down and dip my toes
find the answers in the water
see the cause of the smells
say the right thing

“winter twenty ten”

why does it snow and never stop
in a winter that knows no bounds
the ice and rain in a world of cold
is a cocktail that quenches no thirst
the buzz it brings isnt pure or fun
it is numbness instead, with a splash of brrrr
and the hangover just wont quit
no bloody mary or mimosa can save us now
we need a double of sun and shine
and bartender keep ‘em coming
while you’re at it set up the bar
for we’re out tonite with a fistful of cash
and we’re gonna spend every dime

“dog & louie”

dog & louie were hangin’ down on the corner
louie said, dog i cant remember being hornier

know what you mean lou, can’t seem to get a nut
every door i knock on seems to be locked shut

they crossed the street to the hardware store
where they decided they’d buy some fishing lures

no it’s not a metaphor they really bought some gear
and headed to their fishing spot off the cove just north of here

on the road they met a couple damsels in distress
who’s flat tire had really left their car in a mess

the boys stopped and changed it and offered them a brew
the girls got even friendlier after they had had a few

they all eventually made it on out to the fishing hole
and louie found someone besides himself to hold his pole

dog & his gal took a naked swim off the coast
and now that’s the catch he brags about most

“chewing gum”



larry went down to the liquor store,
he wanted gum, nothing more.
but when he got there he couldn’t get in,
the door was blocked with tender tan skin.

I’m just lookin’ for gum, he said, nothin’ more.
she quickly slid her high heeled size 7 up the jamb of the door.
by this time her knee was up near his nose.
he noticed she wasn’t wearing any hose.

his eyes finally made it up to look at her face,
that made him forget those panties of lace.
she begged his forgiveness, just needed a light.
sure, maybe could I see you later tonight?

they went wild in the library looking up old facts,
and reading about elvis slicing melons with an axe.
later they played miniature golf, the one one where,
you try to slip your ball through the crotch of the bear.

in between
they ate lightly steamed oysters and fresh seaweed.

as the moon rose over the highway leaving town,
larry carefully slipped the convertible’s top down.
it was quite a coup for cruisin’ with ice in the trunk,
until the right front radial crushed the lazy skunk.

they washed the smell from their clothes, naked in the pond by the mill,
and gave the neighbors something to talk about still.
on the way home they vowed to each other they’d do it again real soon.
at the mini mart he bought her strawberry ice cream and a spoon.

he also

picked up that gum he was looking for and a lighter for the girl.

“Waking and dreaming”

He looked his victim straight in the eye.
But he shot him anyway.
It takes a special person to do that.
But he did it anyway.

Up and to the left and it ripped the shoulder apart.
It could have been worse but he was a good shot.
That hand gun class had paid off after all.
Still the wound was bad enough and now someone should be called.

Unfortunately that someone hadn’t shown up yet.
Probably would soon enough.
Nine-one-one.
What is your emergency?

The clock on the wall spun incessantly.
He felt he could fly and did.
Must be a lucid dream, thank God.
He wouldn’t do time after all, just wake up and take a shower.

This nightmare was nearly over he thought, half smiling to himself.
What the hell, another quick shot at a passing car just for kicks.
Just then an officer landed a fist to his jaw that woke him up as it knocked him
to the floor.
Landing on the shot man’s bleeding shoulder he became nauseous as he
realized...

A lucid dream is one thing.
Walking in your sleep can be quite another.

“paper or plastic”

it never really mattered what she wore
eyes like that belied her mind
come in close and look behind them
no flies on this one
natural beauty don’t need no making up
high school prom or formal banquet
mowing the lawn or shopping for food
jeans or skirts or a bathing suit
no matter, no one paid attention to her attire
whether prada shoes or sandals
the devil wasn’t in the details
clothes don’t make the woman
mama always knew but didn’t want to say
honey, you’d look in a trash bag any old day

“i don’t know why”

dogs hogs pigs frogs
each make noises all their own
some can live together
some only live alone

the mailman is always late but it doesn’t matter
the dry cleaner doesn’t take you seriously
a flat tire on the freeway and you’ll call a tow
umbrellas are fragile & dangerous

keep the light on when you’re at the stairs
keep the light on as you approach the dark
dutch doors split as necessary
noah proved it with the ark

capitalism takes a lot of time
being poor does too
armadillos like to dodge the cars
sometimes they don’t make it through

“my favorite restaurant”

at the four top in the corner
they’re all lookin’ kinda blue
three guys and a well dressed girl
i wonder who’s screwin’ who

the waitress, she’s on crack, smell the monkey on her back
her patrons can’t quite tell for sure
they know something’s just not right
how will they calculate the tip for her

busboys don’t have to live up
to the hype of the slick bartender
they only have to slide some of his tips
beneath their shirt and fake suspenders

the food is pretty good
though often times too spicy
don’t argue about it with the chef though
he always wields a fillet knife and his attitude is dicey

horse carriages, segways and a bridge with lions at the end
just another day in a paradise of sun, sand and questions
pity the glazey eyed tourists, not knowing where to go
the homeless won’t eat their leftover pizza, but don’t mind giving directions

“vices”

have you had your vice today?
probably two or three anyway
it takes some practice to do ‘em right
smokin’ and drinkin’ and stayin’ up all night

there is harder stuff and some kinda mellow
hunter thompson did ‘em all but he was an unusual fellow
george bush used to do blow so he ain’t no virgin
doctors drink a lot of liquor and that includes your surgeon

thomas jefferson smoked a little pot
i’m sure paul maccartney smokes quite a lot
heroin and morphine took a lot of stars
in the twenties they all drank whisky in illegal bars

so don’t feel too bad or think yourself weak
if you sometimes get too stoned to speak
when you must give in a feed your head
just consider the company your’re keepin’ instead

“hot”

popcorn
soft porn
ear rings adorn
her ears

murder by straws
in-laws
dog paws
carry mud & fleas

prostitutes
business suits
mental institutes
house them sooner or later

osteopath
psychopath
you do the math
keep the change

what’s the cure
no one is sure
anyone pure
cast the first stone

“no cents”

sure he is on fire, he is a freakin’ lightning rod
a reason for existence in a town without a god
the person in charge left for lunch a while ago
in case you missed the point, the pilot has vertigo

maybe a conclusion will be reached in due time
i doubt the answer they look for will reveal itself in rhyme
if you think the mailman has the check you need so bad
you should know that ed mcmahon has spent all he ever had