First things first:

SLOW RIVERS (ISBN 979-8-218-43822-7) can be ordered through a local independent bookstore. SLOW RIVERS is also available online through bookshop.org. Regardless of how or where one purchases my book, I am grateful to all who do so. Shoot me and email if you are having trouble buying SLOW RIVERS and I’ll be glad to help sort things out: slowriverpoems@gmail.com.

SEVENTEEN MEETS SEVENTY (a poem)

What’s with the hat?

It’s called a fedora.

Do men still wear those?

Not really, I’m paying tribute.

Tribute to what?

To the past. Everything
was better in the past.

That’s crazy.
You sound like an old man.

I am an old man.
Look at my eyebrows.

Yeah, they’re horrific.

Nose hairs are annoying, too.

That’s gross.

I told you; everything
was better in the past.

Enough with the nose hairs.
Are you rich?

Rich enough.

What does that mean?

I’ve never gone hungry and
always had a roof over my head.
I’ve got a few people who love me, too.

That’s it?

That’s enough.

Sounds pretty sparse.
How are you set for money?

Once I had too much . . .

Too much?!?!?

. . . then I had too little.
Now I have enough.

There’s that word again: enough.

I came to the idea late.
Now I live by it.

Did you get married?

Twice. So far.

Oh for crying out loud!

Life is hard. Stuff happens.

Tell me one thing that’s really important.

Fiber.

You’re kidding; right?

Nope, completely serious.

You’re weird.

Hang in there, kid;
you’re in for one hell of a ride.

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A New Poem Every So Often.
(No regular schedule right now; life gets in the way.)

Joseph Neely, all rights reserved.