Category: Free bird Poetry

      The Path To Respect

I rolled into town late at night

after hitching a ride with a trucker.

I said thanks as he pulled out of site.

The diner was open. I’m in luck here.

 

I stuck my pack under the table.

I ordered coffee, strong, & a steak.

The waitress turned the TV on to cable.

She said ” I need it on to stay awake.”

 

“Not much business that I can see.”

She said ” It’s slow this late at night.”

I got up and went to pee.

I returned and tried my first bite.

 

“How is the steak?” she asked so sweet.

“Just like my mother used to make.”

She laughed & slid into the seat.

“What brings you here this late?”

 

“I hitched a ride with an 18 wheeler.

Back to my old stomping ground.”

“Are saying you’re from here in Cleaver?”

“It’s long ago since I was around.”

 

“Split in my teens in the dead of night.

Back then the world owed me a living.

I headed for those big city lights.

I starved. The world is unforgiving.”

 

“I finally landed a job as a busboy.

Minimum wage and a share of tips.

In time I moved up to waiter/busboy.

Then, my break came. I was up for it.”

 

“The fry cook died. I took his job.

More pay and better hours.

A place to live. That felt odd.

I had access to regular showers.”

 

“After a couple years, I moved on.

Picked up odd jobs here and there.

A few months & I would be gone.

I never stayed long anywhere.”

 

“I had my share of small town glories

Life was just a crazy carousel.

Sometimes  I suffered more fleas

than I would really care to tell.”

 

“Lately,  I been feeling sorry for myself.

I needed something to turn my life around.

Then, one day, It came to me and I felt

I had to come back to this town.”

 

“Back to where the whole thing started.

I needed a second start to do it right.

I have  felt this is where my heart is.

To do it right,  I’ll have to fight.”

 

“Fight for a respectable name in this town.

Fight to be a man people will respect.

I don’t want you to think I’m a clown.

But, I have a plan that I don’t regret.”

 

“What kind of a plan do you have in mind?”

“I met a rich friend in my travels.

I saved his life. But, that’s another time.

He had plans he started to unravel.”

 

“He wanted vineyards and a winery.

There  is big money to be had in that.

But, he needed land, you see.

I inherited 100 acres.  Right here, in fact.”

 

“He said this was ideal to grow grapes.

He would put up the money to plant.

I would share 50-50. Nothing to waste.

I owned the land on which he’d plant.”

 

The waitress said “Sounds super to me.

I own this diner & business has been slow.

I could use the extra business you see.

There’s a motel 2 blocks down for you to go.”

 

—– 0 —–

 

10 years later the wine business was booming.

They had acquired more land & planted.

Tourists came to buy & taste the wine for consuming.

“I married the waitress” he said, quite candid.

 

He was elected mayor in the local election.

He had respect & the family he wanted.

But, the greatest thing he confessed then.

He had found God & the peace he wanted.

————————————————-R. W. Johnson —–(2012)

 

 

 

        Forgetting Not To Remember

I keep forgetting not to remember

you are someone that I used to know.

I’ve done a lot since last September.

I can’t remember everywhere I go.

I’ve traveled around everywhere.

I saw the stars down in Kokomo.

I spent some time at the World’s Fair.

I even skied the Alps, —you know.

Around the world in 80 days.

Through storms and good weather.

I could hardly see for the haze.

Then, from tall mountains, see forever.

Still, I keep forgetting not to remember

you are someone that I used to know.

I had a ball on San Francisco Bay.

the Alaskan cruise was super fun.

At times it stayed light almost all day.

It was fun  watching the whales run.

I enjoyed Paris, with its nighttime life.

The food was rich and delicious.

I saw the Eiffel Tower lit up at night.

The beauty answered all one’s wishes.

An African safari was really right.

The monkeys were funny throwing kisses.

But, I keep forgetting not to remember

you are someone that I used to know.

Though I have kept busy while gone.

I can’t put it out of my mind.

I remember just where we went wrong.

I have always thought that you were fine.

So much more were we than friends.

I can’t get you out of my mind.

I guess which is right depends.

Are you looking from your eyes or mine?

From my eyes we would never be apart.

From your eyes we were friends, —no more.

To accept that really ripped up my heart.

I can’t forget your goodbye kiss at the door.

So, I keep forgetting not to remember

you are someone that I used to know.

—————————————————R. W. Johnson—–(2014)

 

 

 

 

 

 

      The Beginning

We went for a drink at the local watering hole.

My thirst was burning a hole down to my sole.

My buddies and I were having a real good time.

Then she walked in & I went out of my mind.

I couldn’t walk.

I couldn’t talk.

All I could do is gawk.

A fire started burning deep inside.

It was from the drink, —–I lied.

I knew it was from the looks of her.

A living, walking dream for sure.

No one else paid her any mind.

To me she was the greatest find.

Pull it together boy.

Stop gawking with joy.

Get over there and do your thing.

Before some other guy takes a fling.

I walked up and started jabbering away.

She said “Come again, what did you say?”

My face turned real red.

“Sorry, I must be out of my head.”

“What seems to be the problem?”, she said.

“Well, it’s just that you’re so dog gone pretty.”

“You’re  like a beautiful, long haired, kitty.”

“Why, no one has ever said that to me before.”

“I can’t see why? You, I could always adore.”

“You’re a regular Romeo aren’t you.”

“What’s your name? Don’t say Don Juan will do.”

I told her my name & she told me hers.

I felt like she deserved diamonds and furs.

We continued to talk for some time.

Before we knew it, it was closing time.

I told her I had come in with friends.

“How I’ll get home now just depends.”

“Seems they have left some time ago.”

“I’ll take you wherever you need to go.”

I said “I’d like to see you again, if I could.”

Looks like I’m into something good.

Because she said she would like that.

So that is where it is all at.

But, I’m playing my cards with extra care.

Cause I think this is going somewhere.——R. W. Johnson—–(2014)