Tag: death

Voting Booth

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Haibun, Poetry1 Comment 
there's a reset switch
that will let us start over 
called a voting booth
I don't think anyone can look at the actions of America's modern Gestapo and tell me that they believe everything is fine. When we are willing to trade our freedom for a few cents off the price of a gallon of gas or a dozen eggs something is seriously off kilter. I don't care if you believe in the current administration or not. Wrong is wrong. When one man has caused so much hate, that the tear in the fabric of our nation has become so wide, action must be taken before it becomes unmendable. 

Sitting here on my tiny pile of rocks in the middle of the Ozarks of Missouri, seems to me the answer is pretty darn plain to see. Democracy does not mean, all for one. But one for all. When that one is trying to change the majority to suit him, then the majority must act.

Your vote is your biggest voice of any protest. From the local dogcatcher to the president, every election matters. Every vote matters. Vote as if your life depends on it—because it does.

Now That I’ve Reached a Certain Age (Part Two)

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Free Verse, Poetry2 Comments 
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

Now That I’ve Reached a Certain Age

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Free Verse, Poetry3 Comments 
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

Remember

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Free Verse, Poetry1 Comment

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

~A Thump on the Head / No Regrets~

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Haibun, PoetryLeave a comment

In times of impending demise, in your mind, you might see your life being replayed. Sometimes it’s in fast forward, sometimes in slow motion, sometimes both at once. Life flashes in random order, constantly cycling in and out like an out-of-control tilt-a-whirl at the county fair. You’d think that with all those moments stuck on a playback loop that one would walk away with perfect recall of all the events. Not true. You can remember things like the first time you pooped in your diaper and that piece of Bazooka Joe bubble gum you pocketed when you were ten years old. Every detail, no matter how small or insignificant will come flooding back. But what the heck just went down—draws a complete blank.

when death feels certain,
life flashes by in seconds—
don’t regret the show