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Open Poetry #47
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JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana

0 posted 2011-03-17 11:03 AM


smoke-filled little corner bar
dropped in
to get out of the rain
no where else to go
on the road again
back in tha sixties
the old man
slouched on the piano stool
seemingly bored
as he lethargically murdered
Mack the Knife
only one woman sat at the piano
his wife I later found out
I sat beside her
ordered a beer to nurse
my pockets were not empty
but close
sat through two more songs
bought another beer
the man sounded awful
and off-key
woman nudged my leg with hers
thinking she was coming on
I nudged back
could do with a place for the night
she smiled a private smile
leaned over and said
his dog died today
he had him thirteen years

now I understood
I can't bring him out of it
the woman softly spoke to me
about the man and his dog
taking me back to my childhood
a tow-headed child
and his dog
in spite of myself
tears flooded my eyes
betraying my rough-cut façade
as the man continued crucifying
his songs
and the woman whispering in my ear
something made me put a dollar in
the piano man's jar

"Please sing Send in the Clowns."

the old man stopped the song he was playing
the woman
sucked in an irregular breath
he smiled
his fingers began to tenderly
caress the keyboard
soon his voice
the one which sang off-key
a deep, mellow voice
began to sing the song
magic filled the air
it touched everyone in the place
soon all the stools were
occupied around the piano
those who didn't have a stool
stood behind the ones that did
by the time he finished with Send in the Clowns
somebody dropped money into the jar
requested another song
we were there
until past closing time
the old man sang for the folks
their requests
but every so often
his fingers found the notes to
Send in the Clowns
he'd give me a look
a smile
his woman clasped my hand
said, Oh, thank you

when I slipped out the door
no one noticed
once outside I broke down in tears
sobbed like a child
and to this day
I don't understand why

~ My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle. ~

© Copyright 2011 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
1 posted 2011-03-17 12:16 PM


Well, you have me in tears too, for the man, his wife, you, the crowd at the bar who made him feel wanted, but mostly for his dog.  Lovely poem - very sensitive.

Owl


JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
2 posted 2011-03-17 12:44 PM


Hello, Owl. Thank you for your kind thoughts. It was quite a night.

~ My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle. ~

latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
3 posted 2011-03-17 07:23 PM


this is so tender. Not what i had expected when i started to read. Thanks  for the sentiments. latearrival
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
4 posted 2011-03-17 08:01 PM


Thank you, latearrival, sometimes you can't tell a book by its cover, or in this case poem. I appreciate your read and comments.

~ My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle. ~

Spiros Zafiris
Senior Member
since 2002-10-20
Posts 982
Canada
5 posted 2011-03-18 05:48 AM


.bravo Jerry; a delight to read; to momentarily float this poetic story
throughout ones pondering..>>spiros
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JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
6 posted 2011-03-18 08:14 AM


Good day, Spiros, thank you for the nice compliment.

~ My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle. ~

Word Weaver
Member
since 2011-03-06
Posts 437
California, USA
7 posted 2011-03-18 11:48 AM


WOW Jerry. My eyes couldn't leave from beginning to end. The saddness grips you like a vice. Any reader can tell this is based on a true life happening. It wasn't the dollar that brought the piano player out of his sadness, it was your kind gesture.  


JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
8 posted 2011-03-18 11:54 AM


Oh, for sure this happened almost exactly as I wrote about it, Word Weaver. As I age (darn it) I remember things I've locked inside my thoughts all these years. Some of them are not so good, but every so often I find a jewel such as this night, the piano player and his wife. Happened in Thousand Oaks.

~ My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle. ~

steavenr
Member Elite
since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058

9 posted 2011-03-21 02:07 PM


I could hear the music, could smell the smoke, and generally found myself there...nice...enjoyed
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
10 posted 2011-03-21 03:07 PM


Hi steavenr, good to see you and thank you.

~ Look hard behind you and you'll be able to maneuver around the pitfalls ahead of you. ~

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
11 posted 2011-03-21 06:14 PM


What a great memory to put to verse, Jerry.  Amazing how good thought can change a song, the singer and the audience just like that.  Loved it!
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
12 posted 2011-03-21 06:48 PM


Thanks, Martie. I remember a few nights, not all as happy as this one was.

~ Look hard behind you and you'll be able to maneuver around the pitfalls ahead of you. ~

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