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Monday, January 11, 2010

on like this forever - chapter 3, part 2: mickey





on mickey's ninety-third birthday the boys sent him a cake
nurse jones delivered it

three orderlies sang
happy birthday to you
everybody had a good time

outside the birds were making noise
too much noise
happy birthday was over
eternity beckoned to mickey
remorse smiled uncertainly at him

he ignored both of them
as the hours ticked away
nothing to worry about
despair was for chumps

mickey had plans
and plans for his plans
yes he did
behind his wraparound shades
evil schemes abounded

harry miller the haberdasher
everything mickey knew he learned from harry

down in the old neighborhood
in the seventeenth ward
did he learn his lessons or what?
no one learned better
things were good then

under mickey's placid exterior
plots spread like kudzu

'i need to sweep under the bed"
nurse jones was back

turning his wheelchair to the window
humming an old favorite tune
eyeing nurse jones surreptitiously

somnolescence overtook mickey
kicking cake crumbs under his wheelchair
yawning like a crocodile

but tomorrow
i'll get started he thought
revenge flickered like a volcano
determination like flowing lava
see if i don't come back

as mickey flopped forward in his chair
nurse jones did her job
duty was her life

plots and plans were alien to her
lately though she had been thinking
and certain thoughts
never before acknowledged
entered her brain
softly as summer rain

why was she here?
every day was the same
really what was the point?
explanations were lacking

feeling faint, she paused
looking out the window
yellow leaves lay under the bare trees
i'm like those trees, she thought
nobody notices me
guess i am getting old

turbulence roiled mickey's brain
a master plan formed
kerosene-like it flamed
in an instant it was gone
never to return
gone forever

ashes blew down the street

packing a shotgun
al brown stood on the running board
in the window of uncle dave's pawn shop
return to sender

open your eyes
form a plan

peeking at her
as she finished making his bed
nurse jones filled his vision
there was a woman
she was the key

"oh, nurse," mickey called
falling halfway out of his chair
fumbling for his brain

too late -
his brain disintegrated
empty hopes dispersed into nothingness

collapsed
helpless
all over
it was the end
really

but his body remained
empty
strong hands gripped it
"i've got him" nurse jones called
dr wilson appeared
equanimous as always

he had almost liked mickey
in a strange way
suspecting him of terrible crimes

but he was a patient
egregious though his deeds may have been
dr wilson sighed

jones had things under control
orderlies appeared
happy birthday was over
now back to work
never a quiet moment
yet they carried on



paperwork paperwork
until the cows came home
too bad about the cows

they never came home
how sad
eternity beckoned to them too
mooo

outside the birds and bugs were quiet
none of them cared about mickey



2 comments:

Jenny said...

I like this. I especially like the cow image. In fact, it must be my all time favorite cow picture and I have seen quite a few. The animal's facial expression is priceless.

rhoda said...

thank you, jenny. that is quite a compliment!