Crying
I saw you crying the other day.
I was in that alley.
Behind the magnolia tree, and I had
followed you.
You probably didn’t see me, because of the
shadows. But I was there.
I saw you crying.
You slumped against the wall.
Not weeping.
It was from the gut.
You were in convulsions and your
eyes were faucets. I have never seen
anyone in so much pain.
Damn, he must’ve hurt you a lot.
It was so uncomfortable
to watch you.
I couldn’t tear myself away.
I hated you so much
for all of those years
but I was still uncomfortable.
I felt awful seeing you wretching in
you forlorn pain. Awful for watching
you when you thought you were alone.
At least I could have afforded you
that dignity.
But I did.
I left. Left you to your own for
that painful moment.
I had to.
Watching you having that crying, shaky
seizure was funny as shit.
Man I laughed all the way back to your house
Old Folks Naked
You know why there aren’t any old people
naked on television?
It ain’t because of the tight wound, uptight
executives that run the airwaves.
It ain’t because of the religion that pervades
our social conscious.
It ain’t because when you get old your
modesty takes over.
It aint because no one sees the inner beauty in
people.
It aint because kids may see them.
It aint because art is an afterthought on mass
market entertainment.
It is because old people look terrible naked.
