Ode to The Working Man (a vignette)

i

a sock made holey
worn out work boots and pink slips
bare a good man's soul

ii

"That no good worthless man a mine

out drinkin in them bars alla the time...

s**t Macy, he ain't worth a dime!"

 

"You think that's bad Loretta, well I got lots ta tell ya

it's been a living hell livin with my fella.

Pitt bull mean, and he's gotta heavy hand.

"Ya gotta wear ma shoes woman ta truly understand..."

"Baby, ya don't know how many years

them words was a-ringin in my ears!

List'nin to them two old gals given each other the gears.

I remember thinkin I ain't never gonna be like them!

But I was just a kid back then...

I didn't have a clue...

....I never knew....."

 

"Well, my heart's been broke.

Been, screwed, blued and tattooed.

My throat's been choked...saw

shiny green ivy growin across the wall

before passing out...  took it for a sign.

An I keep that vision with me alla the time...

Oh, then there was this other feller, well

he robbed me blind."

 

"Other things happened hon

but I ain't tellin ya.

I'm too afraid 'bout what ya might do.

And if I lost ya sweetcakes, well,

I'd lose my mind too...

"Never realized love could be so fine."

 

"Ya makes me laugh!

Wanna sing all day!

While doin dishes or the cookin

Or puttin laundry away..."

 

"Cause honey, ya makes me feel safe."

 

"An when my monthlies come,

my guts achin and sore,

why you just run right over

To that 7 Eleven Store an bring me

back some chocolate and Tampax

and say no more... 'cept

come 'ere sweet pea, lemme me rub yer back..."

 

"An it don't hurt none lover that yer a madman in the sack!"

 

"And what a fine daddy!

Why you even took the time

To win over that moody man-child of mine.

An ya treated him no diff'rent when the babies came...

lovin him just the same..."

 

"An darlin, when ya takes me out,

why I feels like a queen!

Like the purtiest damn woman who's ever been!

An I can tell when I'm with ya

yer proud to be seen... with me!"

 

"And ya never cage me in.

An I knows you'll never leave 

so my spirit can breathe free!

"I wish them two old biddies was still alive

so they could see

me and my man and just how good,

good love can be!"

iii

I stared into his sleeping face

grooved bark

aging flesh

borne in joy and suffering

both in depth and breadth

life realized with a practiced eye

grandfather mine

wisdoms gained at a knee too proud to bend

inwardly I leaned alee

until the withering began and it was time

for him to lean on me

recession crept in by degree

reflected in soft angel hair

his snow white halo of resolve

once shone in ebony

rivulets carved long syne slacken

in the hollows of shallowed breath

internally I begged "sleep no more..."

but alas the reaper's ears are deaf

my entreaties eased not my mind

... all was for naught

a pallor ever reaching

consumed his time

all that I am you begot

grandfather mine

iv

Aspire to match the steps

of admired ancestors before you

but dream of transcending!