The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Fri 4/21/06)

[RetroLounge]

The Last Time I Gave My Life to Jesus

I was trying to write some hokey dialogue between
Kierkegaard and Nietzsche for a philosophy assignment
I ended up dropping the course because of, and got

desperate for things people really talk about and
thought about Ricky Coleman who once poured kerosene
on his hand and lit it just to see what I’d do,

which right off was to say God, Ricky, but then
to try it myself, see it was no big deal, and walk out
into the Coleman backyard wondering how in the world

I could light my hand in front of Jenny Litchford.
That night was when Ricky got baptized and I had to
go with his family to church where it was so hot

getting dunked didn’t look all that bad, even if
most people do get water up their nose. I must have
been thinking about Jenny and sweating with everybody

praying and getting excited because when the preacher
at the top of his lungs asked if there’s anybody
else out there who wants to give his life to Jesus

just raise your hand, I did. Not that I knew what
to expect. But I sure expected more than the “bless
you son,” which I got, like he knew I was a Methodist

and what he really wanted was a steady sheep out of
his own pasture where, with my hand in the air, I
felt like I could have been seen for about a mile off.

So I sat there hoping everybody had their heads down
and thinking about all the things I’d like to get
into with the preacher if I ever got the chance

which, after doing some more thinking and seeing how
late it was getting, I took to be the philosophy paper
I ended up getting a D on and dropping the course

because of. It all comes down to things like sitting here
on the porch, being pretty comfortable with a beer and
the rain pounding the awnings, and suddenly having

to decide whether or not to go over and help this woman
I’ve been wanting to get to know, who’s just dropped what
looks like about $30.00 worth of groceries all

over the pavement. If I do, it’s not because I
haven’t figured that I’ll probably ask her if she
needs a hand, she’ll say no thank you I can manage,

that will be that, and I’ll end up not doing a thing
except getting wet.

----- for Mark Craver

Michael Perrow

********************

http://www.webdelsol.com/Perihelion/p-profile9.htm

Mike Perrow received an MFA in Poetry from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and he currently lives in Medford, Massachusetts. His poems have appeared in Volt, Del Sol Review, The Hollins Critic, and elsewhere, including work that will appear in the Spring 2002 issue of Shenandoah.



********************

RL

If you have a request for a certain Poet, post their name in the thread and I will find a poem by them and post it...

if you want to see some of my poetry, see the blog at:
http://www.myspace.com/retropaul

[wildhorses]

1. ..............

:hi:























I was trying to type something witty and prophetic about how he has managed to capture the essential difference between men and women but,
the wine has made me mellow and melancholy

[RetroLounge]

3. .........

Here's to Mellow and Melancholy. My constant companions.

:hi:

RL

[miss_american_pie]

2. Uh, yeah

My head hurts now. :hi: