William Becomes The Universe
saw old time
old man poet pal
William McClain
at a recent birthday bash for
fellow wordsmiths
Mambo Mo & Christian the Elder
a good party
and William notoriously
made as many a shindig
as his dance card could manage
the naked poet had a beer in one hand
a cigarette in the other
and would
periodically partake in the
high holy weed
when it would
casually come his way
and
as always
packing his little blue pills on the
off chance
he might get lucky
for some time I had wanted to
get William’s inside on a few things
being he was 92
and had yet to lose his mind or
his memory
I figured it was a sure bet
he might weigh in with some
sage and mighty wisdom
when he finally sat down next to me
I sprung it on him,
“William, what is time?”
“Time is my oyster,” he replied
“and love is the pearl.”
he then began to talk about many things
while Lorraine and I listened
recounting his glory days
as a waiter and cook at the infamous
24/7 Pantry in downtown L.A.
where it is said that
all the wait staff are ex-cons
and his time on some South Sea island
during his WWII soldier days when
he and a buddy had their way satisfying
hundreds of eager young native gals
as the only men at the Pacific paradise
“All women are beautiful.” he intoned like a Zen bell
a lovely young stranger entered the party
cutting an immediate path towards William
she beamed at the old guy
with Mona Lisa headlights,
“You rang?
I’ve heard all about you, big guy.
You’re William McClain,
horny old limerick maker.
I’ve been looking for you mister.
My name is Mary.
Let’s make like a clock
and break out the hours together.”
the old boy lit up like a roman candle
exploding out of winter’s dark womb
“My dear sweet Mary, you are the world,
and I am a prickly flower in the garden
of ageless desire.
You melt my crazy core
with your genial grace.
The deep spark of your
womanly ways redefine the
continent of my restless spirit.
Your countenance
a sweet balm
for my sad and weary
ecology.
I am the song, you are the dance.”
with that she took his hand
as they waltzed for the door
while the birthday party
raged on unaware
as the door opened
William turned to her and said,
“You own me with your kiss.
I am born again in your eyes.”
Lorraine and I watched
as they embraced
and were swallowed by the
other side of night
as William was then
redesigned in the
moonlight of his new adventure
wrapped in the everlasting arms of
his merciful Mary
I have never met a human so willing
he always made the dance look
so damned easy
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s.a. griffin
green hills memorial park - march 9. 2000
S.A. Griffin is a crash vampire living in Los Angeles. He is a Cadillac wrangling son of the Lone Star State. His mother was Venus on the halfshell, and his father was a used car salesman. He is rhythm and oxygen.
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