(ai) it had been a long time

by joel abel - Taurus

it had been a long time
since he had thought about
da nang
or tiger strike
or I corps.

ages.
long ago memories
collecting dust,
a faraway sun bleaching
their color and substance.

his little red
apartment, janet
and his dog elsie
took up most of his
thinking and
his painting took up
the rest of his time.

he hadnt heard the 
neighbors kid sneak up 
behind him.
but even before the kid
said:

pow!

he knew he was dead.
he knew the bullet that 
had been circling the 
jungle for 30 years had
finally found him.

gotcha jimmie!
the kid yelled.

"wow, you scared me."
jim said, suddenly smiling,
even as he fumbled his keys
and dropped them on his steps.

"ohh, you scary!"  the kid said,
laughing, as he ran down the 
courtyard.

jim picked up his keys 
and locked the door.

in his car he broke a
ciggerate in half trying
to get it out of the
pack. 

and his hand
was shaking when he tried
to light it.





Reason for writing:

    about my uncle.    

Birth sign: Taurus
Date created: 2002-03-19 21:01:52
Last updated: 2021-03-03 14:46:06
Poem ID: 68422

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