PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

The beer isn’t necessary

to write

but it does seem to help

when it’s 1:19 AM

and you have to work tomorrow

early in the morning

it seems to rationalize

the wasted evening

and the silent night

But this isn’t an X-mas carol

and the reality

of the work

isn’t that intriguing

Insane conversations

and dirty looks from colleagues

who don’t like my unkempt hair

and uneven beard

some see the holes

in my sneakers

and the permanent stains

on my pants and shirts

and wonder how I can afford

my trips to Europe

and microbrewed beer

and they’ll whisper

“He justifies living

with his mother

by saying, “So did Kerouac”

if only any of them

knew who Kerouac was

they might well

say such a thing

and the little clichés

of little people

with little boring lives

will hold kangaroo court

and they’ll gossip

and discuss their non-lives

and the safe confines

of their little groups

and I’m supposed

to kiss their asses

and they don’t pay me

and they can’t hold

my interest

for more than three minutes

and they’ll take vacation days

to shop at Walmart

and catch up on their sleep

and I’m not supposed

to think they’re pussies

and they’ll ask,

“Why do you go to New York

all the time?”

“Why go to Baltimore

and Washington D.C.?”

and maybe it’s because

they’ve never been does

but I’m pretty far removed

from their little reality

that isn’t very exciting

The lust for experience

and transcendence

soars way over their heads

Some folks just never

seem to really get it

It does pay the bills

as the line goes

and I will scale mountains

and drink beer in Germany

and Amsterdam needs no explanation

and I should be

in bed already

dreaming of my work

but I’m not ready yet

and I’ll regret it

in the morning, sure.

But I’d regret it more

if I didn’t

but I doubt my bloodshot eyes

could convince anyone

of my triumph

3-30-98