SLOW LINGERING DEATH

Folder: 
AMERICAN ZEN KOANS

 

I was drinking

in a dive bar

in a working class suburb

 

I was drinking

with an old Navy vet

well older than me

 

anyway,

I sip my beer

and hear him exclaim,’

“Yip-pee look at that heinie.”

 

I divert my attention

from my beer

to the notated rear end.

 

It is a nice one

but then she turns around

smiling

and she’s about 60.

 

Well, I’m only 23 (at the time)

Experience has its virtues

to be sure

but she might impart

too much knowledge and wisdom

in too short a period.

 

I’d much prefer

the slow lingering death

that the beer is affording me.

 

9-6-96


Author's Notes/Comments: 

folly of youth exposed; hopefully a smidgeon of wisdom obtained with age

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