Drink With an Old Friend

[Lightning Rod]

I went to college with Van
we bent an elbow together now and then
in Denton at the Final Exam
and talked about our freshmen girlfriends

Ten years pass and we're thirtyish
Greenville Avenue Bar and Grill
place is a Dallas institution
run into Van one evening just past happy hour
he says to me peering over his glass,
'You know, Lightning Rod
I went back up to Denton the other day
and had a couple of drinks at Ruby Begonia's
and you know what? I'm not making any sense to freshmen these days
I think it's gonna be barmaids and divorcees from here on out."

Now thirty more years go by
The Final Exam and Ruby Begonia's are both long gone
but The Greenville Avenue Bar and Grill is still there
Dallas institution
guess who I run into? My older friend Van.
I peeked at him over my glass and said,
"You know what, Van, I'm not making sense to anyone these days
not even barmaids and divorcees
I guess it's gonna be pity-fucks and prostitutes from here on out."

[westcoast]

ah yes, the decline of the empire....
do u get the Bukowski comparision often?
did you go for it?

~westie

[Lightning Rod]

certainly I get that comparison
and I always take it as a compliment
but it may just mean that they think I am
arrogant
conceited obsessed
bad habits
too often drunk
with an overinflated notion of his work
did I say utterly charming?

[westcoast]

yes, i believe you did say that

~westie

[saw]

a wry glimpse at life, aging, it's uncanny similarities, omens and the like, ....and it's realizations......we ignore it or accept it...well done

[the mingo]

I listen to some for my wine, I listen to others for my meat, then there are those who give out both at the same time - its a righteous table you set - thanks, Lightning...

[Lightning Rod]

thanks for your smiles, mingo and saw

I guess this piece is sort of a Bukowski version of that Sinatra tune, 'It was a very good year."

[hester_prynne]

"I guess it's gonna be pity-fucks and prostitutes from here on out."
this Poem is....fantastic.
Lrod....this is a song...
H

[Lightning Rod]

sing it for me, hest