Perspective

Perspective<–Want to Hear it?

I walk in for perspective
And that’s what I get.
A whole class of people
Most of them wet.
One way or another
Drugs or a lover
Sweat drenched bodies
Vampires hover
Licking their sweet tooth
drops of Vermouth
Dry out the martini glasses
Provided to the uncouth
Karaoke is loud
Too loud for my taste
At least when the sounds off
The set up in haste
The only one with the guts
To get up and whale
Closes one eye to see
If he drives it’s jail
The most regular attendees
The restaurant employees
Seem to me to be rolling
Am I jealous or sympathetic?
I used to be one of these.
Now, I despise the dealers of dread
I’m not cool enough to maintain
The sight in my head.
I speak to an old friend
About what I see
He says, “The strong survive.”
That advice was free.
I walk to the pool table
I drop 15 balls.
I play a few games.
My stress level falls.
Drunk guy walks up.
“50 bucks a rack”
Am I scared or aloof?
If I won, I’d give it back
Three or four games in a row
I won
“If we’re not playing for money”
“I guess I’m done”
You were done when we started
I thought as I shook his hand
“Good game it was fun”
“Until next time, man”
Then I leave the debacle
Where I’m normally a part
I head back to the hospital
Where I left my heart
My family is sleeping
My dad is not breathing
The machine is working
Was I wrong for leaving?
Slowly he’s dying
We are all crying
In our own little ways
But is mine to pine
Am I self-defying
I walked in for perspective
And that’s what I got
Buck up or back off
Survive or rot.