Life Partners
1.
I wasn’t looking forward to the meeting
the worker was a pain in the ass
we bend over backwards to help him
all he does is file grievances
three more years to retirement
it’s like leaves falling in autumn
I waste a lot of time raking up
what he leaves on me
I wasn’t looking forward to the meeting
the manager is a pain in the ass
I’ve bent over backwards to avoid problems
all he does is ignore me
I dream of freedom
It’s like showers falling in spring
I waste a lot of time mopping up
what he showers on me
2.
Lived with that woman thirty years
every hour of which she had a job for me
she never talks until I start something
always having to get her way
always having to be right
she’s not like me
me, why I’m Mr. Easy
I love her if this is what love is
Lived with that man thirty years
he sat on the couch most of them
always waiting for me to talk
without me he’d have nothing to do
there’s a right way to do things
he’s not like me
me, why I’m Ms. Easy
I love him, if this is what love is
3.
My parents started driving me crazy
and never stopped
nineteen years until I moved
nothing ever good enough
I know they love me and all but
all I heard was the crap
they never left me alone
with their purse or wallet
Our daughter started driving us crazy
when Fran was pregnant with her, actually
she’s moved out twice, both times painful
her boyfriend has his hands full
that’s what she needs to mature
we know she loves us and remembers
all the good times we gave her
(and, we have always been careful with money)
Victor Schwartzman
The Meaning of Life
In the beginning
the plot of dirt
was under an ocean
the ocean dried
dinosaurs left their footprints
people walked into those steps
a hut was built
then a city
a house rose on the dirt
the woman born in the house
loved her back yard garden
nurtured the flowers
until she could no longer
lift the watering can
she left the dirt. The new owner
built a large sandbox in the back yard
each morning with a rake
he sculpted a design in the sand
some designs looked like flowers
Victor Schwartzman
The Mind of an 16 year old
The mind of an 16 year old
can I remember
that far back
when there were
more dreams than realities
more goals than results
the world was about me
it was better that way
Victor Schwartzman
Hey pal, the bar is closing
Hey pal, does this sound familiar
work all day, eat and
sleep the rest away
with hobbies and cleaning
but mostly working
support my children
support my stuff
I use up my time
all to help the hive
we come and leave
I’ll be remembered or forgotten
matters not a snowflake
Hey pal, the bar is closing
I heard the last call
this final drink burns
been good talking with you
it’s dark outside but I’m not afraid
the air I breathe is killing me
why worry about people or accidents
about what I was born into
about what I helped create
can’t do nothing about anything
sometimes I dream
of driving and never looking back
Victor Schwartzman
Three Views of an Alcoholic
I don’t drink that much
I’m okay if I don’t start before
otherwise the day is gone
sometimes I slur words
I feel normal until I stand
then the world spins
there is so much I could do
I don’t want to do any of it
Our son is a drunk
where did we go wrong
he was always a happy child
seemed on track through school
but then he dropped out
drifting through life
eyes always bloodshot
we failed him
Dad’s pissed most of the time
I tried talking, yelling, crying
but when he looked at me
he only saw a roadblock
between him and the bottle
he doesn’t fool me with the Visine or mouthwash
I need my father, where is he?
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