Roadie Poet: The Joke

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More takes my hands
All gentle.

I get ready.
Brace myself.
Know what’s coming.
I think.

“RP,” she says,
“I love us.
Love us being together.”

But?

“That joke?
The one you and Hambone?”

Yeah, I know the joke.
Was a good one.
Had the whole crew howling.

Except,
I’m guessing,
More.

“RP,” she says,
“It was vulgar.
Beneath you.
All that praise you got?
A waste of breath.”

Ouch.

I pull my hands away.
Try to jam them in
my back pockets.

There’s stuff in them.
A sharpie.
Random plastic wrappers.
A straw.
More garbage.
A candy bar that’s melted.
It’s squishy against
my
fingertip.

I know she’s right.
Knew it at the time.
But that didn’t stop me
from doing it.

Worst of all,
it may not stop me
next time.

***
Yep, some Three Word Wednesday, some Weekend Writer’s Retreat, and it’s a stretch, but maybe some reunion going on here, too (finger and candy bar, RP and More — in a sense), thanks to the Writer’s Island. You decide. And check out some other writers, too, if you’ve got the time.

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17 Comments

  1. Weasel

    July 17, 2010 12:45 pm

    Wonderfully written! Reunions come in all forms, even if they are foreseen in the future. Great post!

    -Weasel
    .-= Weasel´s last blog ..Solidity of Class =-.

  2. brenda w

    July 17, 2010 12:58 pm

    Ha! Living the unfortunate life of a blurter, I know the feeling. Great piece…I love the exploration of the pocket’s contents.

  3. RiikaInfinityy

    July 17, 2010 1:44 pm

    Cute and funny, totally love this poem, thank for sharing^^~

  4. ThomG

    July 17, 2010 2:32 pm

    This is a great poem, like a slice of real life, but in stanza form.

  5. Elizabeth

    July 17, 2010 3:09 pm

    Been there, done that: both voices at one time or another. Wonderful feel to this piece, can see faces, hear tones of voice, and feel the emotions. Strong sense imagery.

    Elizabeth
    .-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..Shopping For Resurrection =-.

  6. Ann (bunnygirl)

    July 17, 2010 4:08 pm

    I so love Roadie Poet. Now that we’ve got Trevor, is an RP collection next?
    .-= Ann (bunnygirl)´s last blog ..Quiz- Which Dystopian Future Is Right For You =-.

  7. Jingle

    July 17, 2010 4:36 pm

    at times, we simply want to taste bitterness along with risks, after everything, no more regrets…

    very live and lovely story.
    .-= Jingle´s last blog ..To Stop Procrastination =-.

  8. Julia Smith

    July 17, 2010 8:20 pm

    This is great:

    ‘I pull my hands away.
    Try to jam them in
    my back pockets.

    There’s stuff in them.’

    Foiled again!
    .-= Julia Smith´s last blog ..Weekend Writers Retreat – 16 =-.

  9. Alice Audrey

    July 18, 2010 12:39 am

    Whooohooo Roadie!!!

    Now I want to hear the joke.
    .-= Alice Audrey´s last blog ..Jill’s Latest Kick =-.

  10. Janet

    July 18, 2010 10:45 am

    I like this – emotional and real. And I love the pocket stuff – gives us a really great sense of who he is without going the ‘tell’ route.
    .-= Janet´s last blog ..Sunday Salute – Volunteers =-.

  11. vivienne blake

    July 18, 2010 12:21 pm

    I like the pace of this, and I, too, want to hear the joke (vulgarity if often fun).

  12. Thomma Lyn

    July 18, 2010 6:54 pm

    Wonderful — I love RP. You do a great job of showing his feelings through well-chosen detail.
    .-= Thomma Lyn´s last blog ..Book Review- Maelstrom by Ann Pino =-.

  13. Thomma Lyn

    July 18, 2010 6:58 pm

    Wonderful, evocative. I love how you show RP’s feelings through carefully chosen detail.
    .-= Thomma Lyn´s last blog ..Book Review- Maelstrom by Ann Pino =-.

  14. Dee

    July 18, 2010 10:29 pm

    oh a blurter – ya been there too 🙂
    .-= Dee´s last blog ..July 18 =-.

  15. K

    July 19, 2010 12:51 pm

    Ouch is right!
    I liked this. It felt real.
    .-= K´s last blog ..H&ampT on Youtube! =-.

  16. K

    July 19, 2010 12:54 pm

    Ouch is right! I liked this a lot. It felt very real and in the moment.
    .-= K´s last blog ..H&ampT on Youtube! =-.

  17. Bobkat

    July 19, 2010 12:57 pm

    There is so much in that poem! I love RP : )
    .-= Bobkat´s last blog ..Long overdue update =-.

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