Up Against the Wall
my ex called the other day
she made small talk at first
like how have you been
the last thirty odd years
and I was thinking about you
and do you still think of me
and remember that time
and did you ever grow up
and quit kissing your mama’s ass
what kind of job do you have
are you still a Jerry Jeff
wannabe cowboy boot kickin
still drinking out of your Stetson
leather vest wearin’ getting drunk
on Saturday whooho worthless
sleeping on the couch Sunday
sonofagun
strumming that internal G chord
I knew there was still a reason
to like country music.
March 28, 2008 at 1:06 am
Carver-esque
March 28, 2008 at 3:17 am
(grin) Sometimes poems have bite…and when they bite they make an impression.
March 28, 2008 at 8:31 am
Yeehah! That is so good, Scot. That is what i was talking about, you are the real deal poet. i was moaning in the comment box below about how rarely i see something that is so well made that it knocks me out, and that’s it, brilliant!!!!! it just turns on ‘quit lickin your mamas arse and away it goes like a stomp spin dirt raisin’ knees up with a nice long sunday afterwards, that is a brilliant poem, perfect fusion of form and content, everything in it works so well that it cant you see it working, no cracks, no wobbles, perfect!
March 28, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Well Paul’s comment is an artform in itself, love that dirt raisin knees up
but to you, Scot, yes, a great poem, perfectly formed, lots of attitude, can see the cowboy now.
March 29, 2008 at 2:07 am
Thanks all
I enjoyed writing this one and fun to read aloud
March 29, 2008 at 3:08 am
oh ,this made me cringe,and get sort of protective of you, which is a measure of how good it is.
March 29, 2008 at 11:37 am
enigma
ha–thanks…
March 29, 2008 at 2:00 pm
This is great, Scot…perfect right down to the country music closing.
March 29, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Thanks so much Pris–glad you liked it.
March 29, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Brings back memories of Jerry Jeff… I saw him at Grady Gammage Auditorium in Tempe when I was an undergrad. Saved my beer money for six friggin’ weeks to see him, and when he walked onto the stage in his black satin jacket and Nikes… he damn near fell down… stinko drunk and pissed off at the world. “Up Against The Wall, Redneck Suckers!” And a legend died…
Great poem, Scot… I recall similar conversations my damn self! Yup… you’re a poet.
March 29, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Bob
I had the same experience with other legends–when they fall, they affect many.
April 4, 2008 at 4:52 pm
This one made me smile. I like country music but don’t know who Jerry Jeff Walker is, will have to look him up. This was certainly a country song put to poetry.
April 4, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Sara
country song/slice of life–bout the same. Thanks for reading!
April 15, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I grew up listening to country music in my parents van. We had an 8 track player which was really cool at the time. My favorites were Loretta Lynn, Dolly Pardon and Kenny Rogers.