I haven’t tried my hand at poetry for many years (haiku games don’t seem to count). But I was in San Luis Obispo on a recent Thursday night and found myself smack dab in the middle of a thriving farmers market. Writing a post with photos and description seemed like it would fall short. A poem seemed more appropriate.
“What’cha havin?”
BBQ smoke, people lined up, the call cutting through the crowd
“Beef rib and garlic bread”
Pull a couple of feet of paper towel and find a spot on the curb
“Hey boy, you need a shine on those shoes”
“It depends on who you ask” says the bag lady in passing
The sax player sneaks a beer out of his case before starting his set
Homeless guy drums his own tune on the concrete, eyes closed to the world
Strawberry ice cream in a cake cone, covering tart frozen berries
The homeless guy still drumming on the return trip
Off the sidewalk to find a beer
only to discover a barstool in front of a basketball game
An old guy sits,
Carefully arranges a cushion with birdlike hands,
Then watches the game, intent, while delicately dissecting his burger
Exit the bar and find the perfect peanut butter cookie,
That I pick apart on the way home
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It’s rough, but there it is.
Take care, and forget the orange monster for awhile. Pet your dog, greet your family with a kiss and a hug. Smile at strangers and enjoy your beer.
Lovely piece!
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Thanks!
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You were always writing poems when we were roommates!
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Fell out of the habit.
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