On the Other Hand, Most People Sit Still, Doing Nothing

ON THE OTHER HAND, MOST PEOPLE SIT STILL,
DOING NOTHING


Boasts about
the softness of eiderdown
heard from loud voices
in neighborhood bars.
The listeners put down their light beers
on the shellacked surface of boards,
sawed from cedar trees,
to applaud the drunk speakers.

A chorus recruited from
Monday Night Football Cheerleaders
from those who had long legs
and could sing above High C
sung the anthem:

“Let us drink crème de menthe to the extreme.”

Windows were improvised and the drunks
looked through improvised windows
to see their staggering reflections
in mirrors framed by golden arrow-shooting cupids.
Some cupids were inverted,
others jetting out into space,
one left the scene to fly
and break the sound barrier.

There was an air of jubilation,
fish scales dyed pastel
were pasted across faces.
Oil was discovered in human blood.
Billions volunteered to have
their arms drilled.

To drown out the screams from drilling,
the chorus sung louder:
“Let us drink crème de menthe to the extreme.”


Duane Locke

Posted over on The Hold