Sitting in front 
of the jukebox 
quarters in pocket 
ready to drop 
as many as
it takes to 
play the song 
that one song 
that’ll make me 
cry or forget 

I closed doors 
set up fencing 
and took a
look at Zaddyland
and realized that 
the generosity of 
my free rides
drew a crowd 
of unsavory riffraff
so I raised 
the price of 
admission knowing that 
what I offered 
was well worth 
the higher cost 
and while I’ve 
yet to see
any new guests 
at least the 
freeloaders are gone 

Why oh why 
when you buy
something that’s needed
like a remedy 
once it’s gotten 
the pain’s forgotten 

I have and
have also seen 
some get into 
relationships in order
to get out
of others or
away from others 
or even themselves 
instead perhaps like 
a boxer who 
finds himself on 
life’s ropes get
your feet under 
you and wait
for the bell 
before you come 
back out punching 

If how I
feel at this 
moment it’d be 
a deep sigh 
but not contempt
au contraire it
would be content
a summer swing
a winter snow 
a drowsy humid 
afternoon rain snooze