i
want
to sing
a happy song
one
like
i’d heard before
but
i can’t recall
or
find the words
and
the only chords
i hear
are those
of
discord
even in the pews
where
psalms
of
love
once
filled the air
now
are
permeated
with
putrid
political
incantations
from
self-deified saints
who merely
sing hate’s sour notes
or
mouth the words
and
meaningless meanderings
of
every charlatan
that’s
ever lived
but
if you happen
to
know the tune
and
better yet
the words
please
sing
it loud enough
that
we may
all
hear it
again
although the ending
has been
figured out
most people
seek to delay
reading
that final page
opting
to
reread
earlier chapters
wondering
how the outcome
might have been
different
maybe
a change in
dialogues
or
characters
would have altered
the conclusion
but
more likely
such changes
would have only
added
a chapter or two
without
affecting the end
plus
the current list
of
scenes
protagonists
and
antagonists
is what
has made
the book
so interesting
had we not been
so
engaged in the text
we
might
have noticed
how quickly
the end
was approaching
oh
even
scribbling
analytical notes
in
the margins
has not changed
what’s
on those
final lines
and
yet
we tarry
on
that
next to last page
our fingers poised
to turn
the page
afraid
of
what
we
know
today’s mail letter from an attorney about estate planning cute card with my old university’s logo and a request on the other side to consider a bequest to enhance campus life and a charming looking pamphlet about the benefits of cremation all and all a fine day to remind yourself to enjoy life
he’s the everyman of fantasy island who should have been a tour guide to the dark ages but became a public servant after finishing high school working effortlessly for the state’s highway department which afforded him ample time to develop his theories on society for example he thoroughly rejects socialism can’t stand the thought of federalism so is a vehement supporter of our military police and first responders he’s often overheard rebuking welfare of any kind as he stands in line at the post office for his social security check he’s truly one of kind and swears if things don’t change soon he’s going to move to costa rica where he is certain that he’ll be able to practice and further develop his me-ism