LATE NOVEMBER

FOR BOBBY LESSER

Remember that two dollar bill you gave me

with the dime taped to it?

I’ve been wondering for awhile

how to pass it along.

Joey almost got it a couple times

as a love gift – the way I got it.

Tonight, a young guy tossed a two dollar bill

into the basket.  Said it was the last of his money.

I grabbed him after, and gave him our  two bucks with the dime

taped to it.  Said, see that, you came out ahead.

I knew that bill wasn’t going to stay

in my wallet

forever.

***

My neighbor drove by

and waved out the window.

There was a gray smudge over

what I was seeing.

I didn’t think about it

but it got filed.

I waved back.

The next day he dropped over dead.

He was marked, I saw it.

What do I do with that?

***

Kerouac on Desolation:

Hot coffee
and a cigarette -
why zazen?

Remembering my own mountains:

Kick back cigarette
not a care in the world
sweet coffee chaser.

                                                   

***

WINTER

  

Feeling the melt

of that fatty piece of brisket

in my morning pho.

***

FALSE TEETH

on the shelf

grinning like false teeth

My skull

momentarily unfleshed

What an embarrassment.

RW

Seattle

11.24-11.29.2018

(photo:  Judkins Park, Seattle)