Fill 'Er Up, Please? (High Octane)

If ever I was sure that someone was coming to help me, I should run like hell. - Thoreau

thirty-one going on thirteen

vacillating between unbearable and mean

hard knocks, street spun

packing a loaded tongue rather than an empty gun

first name roy

middle name jacob

better known as r.j.

standing in front of the speedway

gas station that is, every day

with a cardboard sign that reads

"homeless

anything will help

god bless"

his own twisted way of trying to confess

ever penny that he gets going towards his next high

do or die

drag-a*s and try

better to sweat crack than cry says i

always fighting

wild fists flying through the air

trying to kill the demons

"what's that?" you say, "surely you jest"

it's getting harder to tell the winners from the losers in this upside down world

especially when we don't have our signs unfurled

isn't it just great?

i'm cursed in a self-inflected, sober, seemingly coherent state

pathologically late

unable to find peace at heaven's precious metal gate

i guess we're all the same

feeling different pains

with disparate brains

our souls smeared with antithetic stains

we each fill our rides with different gas

so that we can get past

finish the race and not be last

he's blessed

messed

on his drugged-out quest

i wish him the best

fill us up

drop something in our cup

yes sir

yup

Author's Note

"Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads." - Thoreau

Reviews

[X]

My my someone was out n' about bringing us raw and real reports from Heaven turned Hell and lil angles cryin in the streets trying to survive on a dime and some drugs...yes...California has turned from the Golden to the Homeless State...and I remind myself eeery day that life is not a bowl of cherries and I too can end up in the pits...never quit never give up....Thank you for another sensitive poem Pete...Have a great Sunday🌞

[Pete]

thanks kira. what else can i say? this is what i see and feel on my way to church this morning ... :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

It seems the worth of the worthless sometimes has more meaning than our own self centred sorry states. How easily we judge the down on their luck when in fact our own lives are unravelling. At least that is my take. You describe that scene and express the dilemmas we are faced with well in this one Pete.

[Pete]

thanks. i like your take. we're all hypocrites and one step away from humility. life is not for the faint of heart john ... :)

[barleygirl]

This starts out as a startlingly vivid & fresh look at this begging regular at the gas station, but your message quickly morphs into an introspective gem with a jazzy & flippant "rap" essence. It's hard not to ponder the begging vagabond & not compare his existence with one's one, along with unavoidable swerves into blame & justification, offering false balm to our greedy egos. This piece shows your keen way of seeing everything around you & putting it into unflinching words (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Pete]

what can i say - i call it as i see it. truth is stranger than fiction. you can't make this stuff up - is real life along with my feelings on such matters. thank you margie for your keen eye and receptive heart. there's a piece of that person in front of the gas station in each one of us. one thing i've learned in this life is to never say never. like they say, when we point our finger at someone there are four fingers pointing back at us. we're all running in the human race but we each go at our own pace to make it to the finish line. keep well my friend ... :)

[Cherrie]

You never know who may be homeless or just how little it takes to become homeless. Let us see those in need.

[Pete]

yes cherrie. it's scary. we're all one step away from humility. thank you for sharing thoughts ... :)

[Cherrie]

... ironic. We had to drive back to Oklahoma Thursday and get our middle son who had been living in the park for the last month. Hopefully we can help him get back on his feet.