06.25
The man at the door is earnest
Friendly
Nicely dressed
A fresh polo shirt
Over his suit pants
He works all day in the City
I have a poem to finish
I should tell him
But I don’t
He lives in the house down that way
The one with the Navy Jack out front
Yes?
He needs signatures
To get his candidate
On the Republican primary ballot
She sounds like a good person
He’s so earnest
Civic-minded, even
Rich loafers
But I’ve got a poem to finish
It’s about clowns or maybe ass sex
I’m not a Republican
I’m an Independent
(Can I say I’m a Poet?)
That’s okay, he says
As long as you’re not a Democrat
But I have a poem to finish
That last stanza was really kicking
I can’t remember the last time
I spoke to one of my neighbors
He reminds me of my Dad
The way he dressed after work
I’m sorry, I say
I don’t like signing things
He looks exasperated
Disappointed
I should’ve just told him
I have a poem to finish