Now that I’ve reached a certain age
I worry that every bill
I get in the mail
could be the one
that tips the scale
that drops my accounts
below nil.
Even though
I’ve cut all the corners until
it’s now just a straight line
to the poor house
sliced the potatoes so thin
you can read the past due
notices through them
and still don’t have enough
left over to pay
attention or buy that
lottery ticket to salvation
Category: Free Verse
Now That I’ve Reached a Certain Age
Now that I’ve reached
a certain age
I’m afraid
every ring of the phone
every knock on the door,
Might be telling me
someone ain’t on this earth
no more.
Dropped stone cold dead
while lying on the couch
watching reruns of NCIS.
Cops rummaging through,
the mess. Looking for clues,
of who did what and,
who knew who.
But a bit excited too
that maybe one of the kids
or the neighbor or
a stranger selling bibles,
Dropped by
just to say hi
and I end up
having an hour-long
talk
About how
my warranty has expired
or why I’m always
so tired anymore
Reminiscing
None of us old folk ever talk about
how we were forced to play outside
every weekend and every summer day
from sunup until streetlights glow.
All those sun burnt faces,
shoulders and ears,
wet clothes and frozen toes.
sweltering heat, torrential rain,
blizzards of drifting snow.
But oh,
how we do love to ramble on
about how much fun we had watching
mud puddles drying,
icicles melting,
and how excited we were to watch the grass grow
into yet another year.
Remember
Do you remember
playing out in the street
and a man came by
said he had something
sweet
and it’s yours
for free
if you come with me
Your friends ran away
leaving you there
with a smile on your face
and a ribbon in your hair
all they could do was stare
as you walked away
holding his hand
they never saw you again
Do you remember
that time down on Clary
when those two dudes
rolled up looking scary
with their nines at their side
when they stepped
out of that fine
looking ride
you said that’s
the life for me
the way it ought to be
not taking shit
from nobody
now your doing life
in the penitentiary
with a guy named Earl
Do you remember
that feeling
when you took
what he was dealing
and it left your senses
reeling
clear down to your
tingling toes
your fingers
twitching
your nose
itching
your mind numb
did you know
it was dumb
or was you too
high to care
as they
laid you on the slab
in the autopsy lab
the man said
what a pity
this girl was so pretty
but that was never
enough for you
***To You She is Mother***
bringer of life,
giver of love,
sculptor of minds,
painter of dreams,
the calmer,
the soother, the rock…
Holding you through the tears
of mistakes done,
when dreams won’t come,
when milestones are won.
Inspiring you to begin,
to reach the end,
and then start again,
flying higher,
going farther,
moving faster…
She cherishes you,
holds you,
knows you,
at times scolds you,
but you know she will always,
love you…
She is your
unyielding,
invulnerable protector…
Yes,
To you she is mother.
To me…
She is fierce,
soft,
gentle,
lover,
fighter.
inspiration,
imagination,
stimulation,
motivation,
admiration,
rolled into one package…
In that package, a brain,
brilliant,
calculating,
supportive,
unselfish,
forgiving…
In that package, a heart,
caring,
sharing,
loving,
generous
compassionate,
tender,
affectionate,
supportive,
romantic…
In that package, a soul,
the spirit of
an angel’s grace,
where evil,
has no place,
and even the saints would cry tears,
over her purity…
In that package, her hands,
a touch that can,
calm the rage,
that boils inside of me,
exposing my insanity,
steering me.
from the brink of,
catastrophe…
In that package, her arms,
that wrap around me,
bringing harmony,
peace,
contentment,
love,
reality…
To you she is mother…
to the world she is my wife…
to me she is,
my life…
Jerry Brotherton 