It's Just Life

Just goofing off a little.

Black coffee in the morning

and a two car garage.

My car won't fit

in that crowded collage.

So I park outside

in the frost and in the rain

Scraping ice in the winter,

but I never complain.

I go through my life

in the usual way

working the same  job, 

day after day.

On Sundays, I pray

I believe the Word is true.

I'm three rows from the front

behind the amen pew.

They made me a deacon

whatever that means;

helping with the congregation,

but please, not the teens.

We've reared four children

in a house that's too loud,

no drugs and no jail

my mother would be proud.

Once a month I take my wife

on a date night for dinner,

so those matrimonial bonds

don't get any thinner.

The menus never change

we order the same dish.

I get the chicken,

and she orders the fish.

My house needs a new roof

and the siding needs painting

My grass is too long

the neighbor's dog needs better training.

My car needs a tune-up

the tires are old

but the radio still works

and the air blows cold.

I moved to the coast

so I could play in the sand

but nothing works out

exactly as planned.

I wanted a boat

to play on the ocean

but my salary won't support

such an expensive notion.

So I go to the beach 

and bake in the sun

only for a few hours,

after that, it's not fun.

Back at home I sit in my chair

lost in a book or maybe T.V.

or playing banjo in a band

how cool would that be?

I look at my wife 

while she sits and reads

and wonder if I've taken care 

of all her hopes and dreams.

All-in-all

Life isn't too bad

remembering all the fun

and good times we've had.

It's not all been easy

we still struggle with debt,

get angry with each other

but we've not given up, yet.

I still love my wife

and the sex is okay

life's really pretty good,

I think I'll stay.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

A fun & truthful look at the average life! I love the way you spill your well-selected details to paint a word picture with good rhythm & rhyme. I love the sardonic tone about the various aspects of maintaining a marriage. This is the poster child for SHOW instead of tell . . . we get it, that there are ups & downs, but it's all worthwhile anyway! I'm reminded of "Ordinary Average Guy" by Joe Walsh:
"And every Saturday we work in the yard
Pick up the dog doo
Hope that it's hard (woof woof)"

[James]

Is it wrong that I posted this on my anniversary? It's all really pretty good. Thanks.

[barleygirl]

Your hunny will be underwhelmed by your enthusiasm, I'm afraid! *wink! wink!* (((HUGS)))

[Papaya]

I don't know what else to say other than I absolutely loved this poem and how real it feels.
I like the part about still loving your wife. a woman should be loved. her man should make her feel that she is. it's never perfect and not always easy but the bonds stay strong.

[James]

It's never easy, but the good out weighs the bad, by far. We still enjoy hanging out together and that's the key, I think. Glad you liked this.

[Resa]

A very relatable read.
Things rarely turn out the way that we imagined they would.
Thank you!
Resa :)

[tracey]

hi James, im new on site just reading some of your writes, i loved this piece it went so well, and so true in many of households, a great write will be reading some more,, Tracey

[Donna]

That was great! It was so much fun to read. This is one of the best poems I have read! Nice writing James!

[James]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed this. Life really is pretty good.

[KWP]

haha I hope you wife doesn't read the sex is okay - hey man, it works both ways you know.

this is such a refreshing poem to read here, it's light like the meter like the life itself - nice one X

[James]

Maybe I should revise that line before I get in trouble.

[KWP]

i'm still laughing ... but no don't change it, it matches the rest of the poem X

[KWP]

oh i just read you posted this on your anniversary - you just get funnier and funnier :D

[Shweta]

Oh..I loved it. It simply left me smiling. Nice and sweet

[James]

I'm glad it did. Thank you.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, life seems sometimes to be a clutter of endless monotony...and yet if it were gone...we would miss it greatly---we need to be grateful for the things we do have...and embrace them.

j.

[Lorry]

Just life, and the thousand and one things it brings our way. And we wouldnt change a thing...well, wouldnt say so out loud anyway :)

[James]

Yep, not out loud. It's mostly pretty good, though. Thanks.