WHAT DO YOU DO?

what do you do with a shit day?
start it over, i suppose.
i do that, but the anger still remains.
drudgery, monotony, disappointments...
all the same old, same old.
it's a sucky day.
go away.
legs ain't working.
lungs ain't breathing right.
bonds are down.
cancer doc tomorrow.
aortic screening in the spring.
out of the loop.
too much techno bullshit to learn.
losing my edge.
saw some college kid call a guy in my gym old today.
the "old guy" was forty.
i am sixty-two.
that makes me ancient.
felt like kicking his ass.
and i could.
this day blows.
sucky, sucky, sucky.
it sucks man!
now i sound juvenile.
a juvenile, geriatric piece of dung.
i start my day over.
again.
blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
the end.

AFGHANISTAN

why the hell was i in afghanistan?
the weather vacilates from bone chilling cold,
to sweltering hot.
We march up winding trails.
rough terrain.
rock and mountains.
everything is weird.
we dig in, while we are being shot at.
it frightens me.
we are in a valley now.
they shoot us like fish in a barrel.
we go into villages.
we kill the taliban.
but we also kill "friendlies".
my company commander says it is unavoidable.
he explained to the afghani elders that:
"your sons take money from the enemy to fight us."
it is explained to them that they will have riches,
if they fight for us.
it seems so insane.
i remember seeing my first dead man.
then more were killed.
my friends.
the guys who came here with me.
we were on such a glorious adventure at first.
now it is a nightmare.
i tried 6 different sleeping meds.
none of them work.
i am back state-side now.
i have no work.
i spend time at the gym and in the bar.
i don't feel young anymore.
i still wonder why were in afghanistan.
i like to think i made a difference.
but sometimes it is hard for me.
i hope things get better.
i shouldn't complain.
i came home in one piece.
i was one of the lucky ones.

TAKE THIS ONE MOMENT

take this one moment
and make it yours.
it may be the one
which defines your life.
don't take time for granted.
one moment may bring you up.
one moment may let you down.
one moment may alter all of your days.
nothing in time is insignificant.
most people sleepwalk through life.
they worry about needless things.
things work themselves out most of the time.
concentrate on important things.
make your to-do lists every day.
prioritize.
do your best.
then let the rest go.
grab your important moments.
keep your eyes open.
keep your ears open.
keep your mouth shut.
see what happens.

all of this should work for you,
unless you are an artist or a writer.
if you are one of these creative types
put your head between your legs,
and kiss your ass goodbye.

ratman

he hid in dark places
played cat and mouse
scurried about furtively
not wanted
abhored
excorciated
decimated
incriminated
he was the ratman

he ate from a can
in gutters
from old candy wrappers
dumpsters
brown paper bags
he ate gifts from old hags
and bums
he was the rat man

he wore a coat of gray
a shabby fray
in disarray
a hobbled walk
he never talked
he always dread
what they said
about the rat man

in his final gasp
it was a rasp
he glorified life
in spite
of the horrors he'd seen
he was not mean
he was the rat man

and so he died
no diatribe
about this man
who said, "I can."
he simply went
his life was spent
like a shooting star
behind the bar
he was the rat man

THE FIGHT

he punched out early
the boss glared at him
the bus would take him to the west side of town
the fight was scheduled for ten rounds
he smoked his last cigarette
entered the banquet hall
a lopsided ring faced him
dilapidated folding chairs

he went to the changing room
his trainer taped his hands
gave him a rub down
said, "kid, you ain't made for this no more".
the trainer knew it
so did the fighter

he was on the card early
he was fighting a young terrier
an up-and-comer
he was cut up badly by the 4th round.
he was knocked down in the 8th.
he kept getting up
the trainer told him to stay down

they booed the fight
they threw garbage at the old fighter
he finished the fight standing up
he lost the decision
his take was fifty-bucks
no-one stayed to talk to him
it wasn't like this in the old days

he bought some smokes at the liquor store
jumped a bus to connely's bar
some old whore said, "what happened to you?
"yer face looks like it ran into a train!"
the crowd laughed and so did he
the fighter closed the joint
but he bought a round for the house

he went home and soaked in a hot tub
he was drunk
he was happy there was no work tomorrow
he was happy for the extra fifty bucks
he plugged in the space heater
he dreamt of the old days.

BREAKDOWN

the bridges are cracking
social services lacking
the parking ain't free
it all bothers me
they say we can fix it
they lay off the cops
the workers
the lot
the people of use
the engine
instead
they drive a caboose
what in the hell?
it don't ring a bell
of sanity here
i desperately fear
for help
this spiral is now
no one has a clue
of what to do
just watch tv
and you will see
how bad it can get
you can bet
on regret
before it's all through
there'll be nothing to do
for the sanity here
is gone
like a tear
down the cheek
of lady liberty.

RESOLUTIONS AND REVOLUTIONS

It's time for resolutions.
Diets for new constitutions.
The fat must seek a solution.
How about a revolution?
The rich are weaker now.
They've eaten the fat-assed cow.
Get on your camouflage now.
Put greasepaint on your face.
And how!
We're gonna' take control.
We're gonna' rock-and-roll!
Don't forget to lock-and-load.
For money that's been stole.
From fools like you and me.
We're rock hard from poverty.
So get your game face on.
A new order will be found.
We'll beat them to the ground.
We're muscled and sinewed.
From years of toil and spew.
From corporate theives that knew.
They're screwin' me and you.
So get on with your resolution.
For the worker's revolution.
Don't let them fake the blame.
We won't forget their names.
It's crunch time don't you see?
A new reality.
Where the fat and thieving rich,
Won't pitch their evil bitch.
At educated fools.
Who learned to use the tools.
To build America.
It ain't just bru-ha-ha.
So raise your hands up high.
Point them toward the sky.
And remember to defend.
The women and the men.
Who labored for this land.
I know you understand.