jonberger

I let the dogs off the leash
so they could run
as fast as they wanted
while I biked alongside them
in my industrial neighborhood.
If I did it early in the morning
or late at night
there wouldn’t be enough people around
to judge my actions
or ticket me for leashless behavior.

While holding them,
they would constantly pull against me.
It was stressful for all of us
and didn’t yield desired results.
If I got on the bike, they would follow me
at a speedy clip,
getting the kind of exercise they sought
without straining anybody’s bodies.
I liked the fact that I got exercise, too
– and I saw more of my neighborhood than usual.
Winning all around.

Heading back to my building
we saw a feral cat.
It wasn’t the first time
we’d seen an animal in our travels.
They’d see a bird, hurtle towards it,
and the bird would fly away.
They’d see a squirrel, jump at it,
and the squirrel would scurry up the nearby tree.

The dogs went after the cat
who naturally dashed for a nearby fence.
He didn’t make it.
Instead of playfully pushing the creature
back and forth between them,
the proto-wolves I was caring for
savaged the cat.

“What?!” I moved in to pull them away
from their thrashing and biting,
but when I said “No!” and let them go
they started up again.

I watched the critter breathe its last
because the dogs had obeyed their instincts.
“Bad dogs,” I muttered, but I was thinking,
“Dumb boy.”

I found a box for the cat,
as if that was showing appropriate respect
for the slaughter committed unto him.
I bagged the box, and put it into the garbage.

I am so sorry for what I was a party to,
you formerly free creature.
You deserved better.

Just because the gauntlet is thrown
doesn’t mean you have to rise to the bait.
Just because you have been dared
doesn’t mean you have to accept it.
Just because there’s been a challenge
you don’t have to take it.
Just because all your friends have jumped off the bridge
doesn’t mean you need to split your skull open, too.

Please don’t split your skull open, too.

I think when I accomplished my greatest poetical feat
(I wrote over 465 different pieces in April, 2009
{don’t ask me how many of them were any good}),
I was in the process of trying to attempt
to impress a couple of girls.

It may have succeeded,
though I don’t know how much
the impressed girls would have cared
about the accomplishment
they witnessed.
I’m not much in touch with either of them now,
fifteen years later.

I may be in a position
to be able to match that kind of prolificacy
this April,
during National Poetry Writing Month,
though it may well be International Poetry Writing Month, as well.
There is no one to dedicate this effort to, though.

I don’t think that will stop me, though.
I may have to do it for myself
this time around.

I guess that’ll have to do.

You’re looking down. Know I’m around and that I’m here.
If you’ve got troubles I’ll be with you, never fear,
Is something wrong? If there’s a problem, I can help.
I’ll be supportive and not treat you like a whelp.

Let me know, buddy, I’m your understudy. We’ll work it out.
I’ve got it figured, if you need me, give a twisted shout.
You can talk to me, just like John Lennon said.
Of course, the difference is: I’m living, he is dead.

There are people lonely, you’re simply not the only one.
If that’s the problem, come to me! We’ll have some fun.
I can drive your car, we can go far, just tell me where.
We’ll go the distance; visit anyone. I swear.

I’m here to help, because I love you. Yes, I do.
That’s all you need. Aw, yeah… that much is true.
I know you’re feeling bad. I want to end your dread
’cause you can talk to me, just like John Lennon said.

Today I checked out the estate.
It is large, as expected.
It is strange, as expected.
There was a staff,
as one would anticipate
on a property of size.

There were the unsurprising freeloaders
both in the house
and surrounding it.
And there was a surprising amount of work to be done
all over the place.

For such an impressive place
so much of it appeared to require change.

I may not understand the aristocracy
as well as I thought I might
but it was fascinating,
at least,
to be among them
if only for a moment.

You wait on the line
and you wonder who you have become.
You never used to wait on lines.
You were beyond such things
yet now here you are
standing here like a fucking drone.

These new flavors had better be worth it.
It is here that you spy
the latest in headphone technology
disguised as the latest in helmet technology.

Covering a full 80 percent of her face
you can hear the sound she’s getting.
It’s ear splitting.
You have to have this.

So after you get the amazing yogurt
with the finest mix-ins,
you figure out where the helmet/headphones
can be attained
and you get on that line.
So what if the line is longer than the last?
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

The line moves swiftly.
Upon purchase, you hear insurance is a steal,
but it requires validation,
which necessitates a third line.
It’s shorter, but moves slower,
and on it, you meet someone.

Someone special.
Someone you like who you are with.
Someone you think it’s pretty important
you take blood tests with
right away.

You have no idea how many more lines
this is gonna require,
but you’re pretty sure
the rest of your day is booked.

When were you last in a place like this:
a gigantic, rocking, aching, smelly
construction trawling across the water?
Has it been a year?
Has it been ten?

Good gods, has it been ten?
You think you might not have walked upon a boat like this
in many many years.
But then, what would call you
across the water in this way?

What excellent offers are proffered before you
to incentivize your voyage?
You cannot say
for as a seer once spoke:
“If you say the wish out loud,
it won’t come true.”
And anyway, no one else would care.
But you’re sure that treasures indeed
will be found for the taking.

So off you go:
a middle-aged man across the water
and you can see fairly well
to where you’re going to.

I remember it like it was thirty years ago:
I was at UCLA for the summer
and Big Daddy was playing at
a music store
but one of my cohort needed a ride to the airport.
No problem. I could do it all.

Except the friend going to the airport was running late
– not a problem for her; the plane was also late.
But it played havoc with my schedule.
I dropped her right around
when was supposed to set off
but maybe if I rushed I could catch some of the set.

If only I knew LA
and its ability to snarl up traffic on a dime.
Also, I got lost
a couple of times.

I was able to see people
who looked like Big Daddy
congratulating each other after playing
but I heard no music played
– no live music, at least.

Maybe next show, I thought.
It’s their town,
there’s a whole summer.
I’ll get to see them again.
I never saw them again.

There’s something in all this,
a lesson about responsibility
and self-interest.
Maybe it’s important.
Probably its crap.

Things are changing over here
in the Casa.
You’d hardly recognize me right about now.
I’m not yet twice the man I used to be
but I’m getting there.

I am learning to accelerate my abilities
to their maximum capacity.
I am lengthening my sentences.
I am expanding my vocabulary.
I am stretching out my billable hours.
I am improving my fashion sense
my musical taste
and the drugs I take.

I am taking in more protein.
Things are good.
Things are better than good;
things are best.

You can hear yourselfin other’s stilted slurred speech
after hours
in the squall of the night.

You are afraid how much you parrot
these sounds you’re hearing
and don’t want to repeat these behaviors
any further.

You sound embarrassing in your ears
as they blather on.
You wish they’d stop
but they have so much stupid shit to say
and it’s all with your stupid voice.

Just shut up, you!
But you won’t.
You know how stubborn you are
when you drink.