Twelve Efforts

Twelve Efforts

Come along now
come along.
Come along now
go slowly.

Now
we are like stone figures
setting a place
in history.

We had one shot
to get out of
Cabbage Town
on crutches in the sand.

Still dancing
under electric skies.

Old Scratch
kept it all
within reason.

Exit
step back.

Let the street side
melodrama play out.

I must have been
on a bland ego trip.


What task was I
set up for next?

He was displayed
sitting with the crowd,
like a stranger
in an even stranger land.

That Summer
left me feeling young
and I was young.

I had
more notches to carve.

Jump cut back
to Springtime.

The refreshing wind
when I tried to hide.

It was
morning in America
all the way.

so we took it back
to the start.

Throw in some
Rolling Stones machismo
or a touch of Brando.

Like a jungle adventure
taken from my era
took a moment
to come to realize.

To last
through
twelve efforts
weed thoughts
sure do
tax my mind.

That will be an effort
we were
like the lost ones
leading the blind.

Doomed us every day
Shiver's bird
was tossed.

She could have been
someone's mother
but she sure was dosed.

I was with Rita
who was one of my
favorite flames.

Up on the hill
with her breakfast coffee.

Sure loved the way
she played
the numbers games.

We do not know
where he went
not even his brother
had a clue.

We don't know
where he went.

All up in alms
repeat the 23rd Psalms.

All this great crass
rejuvenating effort
making a last
slightly late retort.

All of us
laughing
down the avenue.

In that humid
spaced out
Summer of 1982.

Hercules Shiver
you were right
this is true.

Auto writing
for the myth
from the muse.

I made it just along the trail
court and spark
on a Saturday afternoon.

As the world sleeps
nothing seems
to be moving.

But that would
have to be
incorrect.

I have not decided
if you are real
or just a figment
from a fever dream.

With wind
from the East
and a chill
not right for June.

The night shines
and the torch lamp
glows
out there
down the hill.

Will you prefer
a lucky gnome
who was
not so sentimental?

-Will Dockery (June 12 2020)