Senior Citizen's Lament  (Part Two)

 

                         On a park bench

                         reluctant elder statesmen

                         a young man sits

                         in an old man's body

                         incarcerated in a cocktail party

                         cigarette with perfumed holder

                         inspector of woman's cleavage

                         dirty old man in a dinner jacket

 

                         Medicare is mother dear

                         a wayward woman

                         her love doled sparingly

                         among her many children

                         he shakes an angry fist

                         slightly palsied

                         a gallant Mr. Metaphor

                         with a twisted gold club

                         wanders from euphemism to euphemism

                         rest room to final resting place

                         (Shall I pass on

                         or just pass away?)

 

                         Outside the gate

                         checkered cap and tricycle

                         in a land of black and white

                         a field of white blooms unscented

                         where the pale anemic sun shines

                         the voice of Chamber of Commerce

                         hearty with a slap on the back

                         good to see you old man

                         you have come to the right place

 

 

 

                                                          Jack Mashman

                                                          Rev. 1994