Helping a Blind Lady
and never get up," she confided,
tapping her cane as we crossed
the street, her Shepherd
towing us on its leash,
the light ready to go red.
“But then I have to pee,
and I'm thankful I can
make it to the bathroom."
Folks You Can’t Forget
There are people
I hope to see
lolling on a cloud
in Heaven some day
but hope never to see
on Earth again
when I go out to buy
a cherry Coke
at a drugstore counter
with silver stools
and red seats
and a girl
named Norma Jean
on one of them
legs crossed
but not a blonde yet.
These are people who
have been a problem
in my life
nice people
I hope to see
lolling on a cloud
in Heaven some day
but hope never to see
on Earth again.
Too many homicides
as it is.
Young Man on a Bad Trip
The stench came first,
the young man remembers.
It was as if someone had
grabbed him by the ankles,
turned him upside down
and dunked him in a latrine.
Not good, he says.
Then all the hissing
and the forked tongues
only he could see,
flickering as if vipers were
slithering around him.
Very bad.
A nurse told him
he was out of it for days,
yelling and cursing
jumping out of bed
running around.
It took three orderlies
to hold him down.
All he remembers is
the stench and hissing.
When he came out of it
he thanked a priest
his parents had called
when doctors said they
could only sedate him.
The priest came back
the next day and asked
if he wanted to pray.
He told the priest
he didn't believe in God
never mind Satan.
The young man said
the problem was a guy
had sold him bad stuff.
Simple as that.
But if it happens again,
he hoped the priest
would come back,
light his candles
and work his magic.
He’d appreciate the help.
Donal Mahoney lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
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