The Cerebral Catalyst

The old man shuffles in
as I'm starting on
my second beer and
it takes him awhile
to get to his seat so
by the time he sits down
I'm ordering my third one
I've seen him here before
so I ask him how he's doing
okay he says without looking up
I remember he's married and
ask him how his wife is
this time he looks at me
not good he says
I had to put her in
a nursing home last week
I see the tears in his eyes
I'm sorry to hear that I say
but it doesn't seem like enough
he says the worst thing
is the Alzheimer's
she doesn't remember things
doesn't even know who I am and
the tears roll down his cheeks
I can't stand watching him cry
and know I have to
get out of there before
I lose it myself
so I put my money on
the bar and leave
don't even think about
finishing my beer

______________________________________
James Babbs was born during the Johnson administration when the average household income was $6,899.00 and a gallon of gas cost just 32¢. He still dreams of becoming a rock star, but would settle for Emperor of Wyoming. His poetry collection, Dictionary of Chaos, is still available from xlibris.com. Some recent poems have appeared in Abbey, Little White Poetry Journal, Nerve Cowboy, Pudding Magazine, Remark and Words Dance; and on the internet at My Favorite Bullet, Spent Meat, Thieves Jargon, Word Riot and Zygote in My Coffee.

posted 05.21.07.

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