I wonder does she know
that they live with us -
all my other selves -
over on the stairway is the me that went totally insane
five years ago during the great stress
while I had to keep it together for my family.
He is looking quite relaxed today.
On the sofa is the me that quit his job
to write poetry and become involved in the theater.
( I am surprised he is here - he should be in New York)
Over there is the me that told everyone to *******
and leave me alone.
On the second floor, looking out the bedroom window,
is the me that actually went to find
my birth father and tell him he was a **** for leaving my mother and me.
He is chatting with the me that sent his manuscript out to more than three agents before giving up.
The me that has worked out diligently for the last 30 years, playing football and basketball and soccer is over - no I’m making him up. He doesn’t exist.
They crowd every inch of every room
and more than a few hang from the ceiling
and now all her other selves are moving in as well.

I suppose that’s married life for you.

As we get older we get much bolder,
not something like we used to
just throw over our shoulder.
We think about when we were young,
and how with the territory came dumb.
So strong, so agile, but we soon found
out that it only lasts awhile, that
physical peak is here and gone
leaving us with only a smile and we
wish that it had lasted more than
a song.

It seems things around us get better
as the the years pass us by, as we pay
more attention to each other. Gaining
wisdom and learning so much as things
just keep going by us faster and faster,
and if we don't keep up with the pace,
we seem to be losing the race and find
ourselves headed for disaster. We
learn what we didn't even know we
didn't know, and we have to know
what is really just for show.

Us old geezers find love comes
so much easier, even if you have been
in the deep freezer.  We don't have
to spend so much time trying to
please her. We know if the others
love is true, the games are gone and
we just get  strong realizing that we
might not be around very long.

Getting older,we take life more in
stride because we realize that we
are nearing the end of this crazy,
ride, and that it could all be over
in the blink of an eye. We soon
come to the realization that we
are all going to die, so we watch
those around us fade away, and
we wonder  why we are still here,
and know that it might happen
any day leaving you with nothing
to say.

Every new sunrise that we are given
we realize is a blessing, and we don't
need to worry anymore how we
might be dressing.

Now we know that the best part of
our lives is  now so we savor every
moment that we are given, because
the past is gone and tomorrow isn't
here yet and now is all we have , so
we touch like there might never be
a tomorrow and hope to avoid the
sorrow of what is happening as
we get older, we know our place and
what we have yet to face, and it sure
ain't no leather and lace.

So all I can say is what the hell,
lets rock and roll !                       Jon York  2010

I see it in you
what you can’t help
but to think
that what you
try and say
is innocent
when somewhere
somewhere dark
you know you have it
you have the truth there
scratching at your insides
an invading virus
that you can’t even see
but slowly slips into
your conversation
before you can tell
it is even there.
But I ‘m not mad.
You are human,
only man.

I take a hot long shower
At this odd hour
The sun is long set
As i get soaking wet
The water washes away the dirt
And with it all the hurt
My muscles relax and my brain sighs
In here i sever all ties
The constant sound of water against tiles
So many long miles