Don't Count Your Grenades Before They Hatch

Don’t Count Your Grenades Until they Hatch

 

As a purpled wet sunrise

punches me in the face,

and today’s plan dissolves

like sugar cubes in my coffee,

 

I sit on my green bucket-seat throne

and listen to a Ramones song burn

faster than a single-wide trailer.

 

I was going to paint a white

clapboard masterpiece, and reinvent

blue collar pride. But, the sky

has become my enemy.

 

Microwave 7-11 burrito

filled with bean paste and anxiety

reminds me that I still exist.

 

I smile as God winks,

puts on His sun mask,

and the laughter of raindrop echoes

 

bounce away to the final chorus

of Teenage Lobotomy.

 

I guess nothing is ever truly lost.

All of my hopes are standing

at the shadowy edges

 

of this circle pit tornado

waiting for a song

that makes them want to dance.

 

Now, I just pray that

the old Chevy will start.

Author's Note

Create a MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Reviews

[Mark]

Ahhhh... ANXIETY! That was the flavor I couldn't identify the last time I
had a 7-11 burrito!
Unfamilar as I am with the Ramones, I can still identify with the setting of goals, then having them dashed to bits by circumstances not of our own making and wholly out of our control. Then the greater goal put by, the lesser goal of merely hoping the car will start is forced to take its place.
Most evocative work, Bob! Though I'm no dolt, much of your stuff, though undeniably beautiful, is too cerebral for me to eke much meaning from; Not so, here! It speaks to my heart most plainly.

[Robin]

you know, we sit down with our beloved guitars and expect magic everytime and sometimes there is that distance ,,, and we wonder how the rest of our day will go ...

[Kerry O'Connor]

Oh Mr Johnson...this might be the sweetest thing I've read today. I just love everything about it. It makes me smile, such is the joy of a winking god with the face of a sun and a song to bounce to.

[OT]

ahh you always pack your poems with shitloads of depth!! I love the purpled wet sunrise - punching ha - and how true it is when it sneaks through the window to give you a slap and headache to boot!! nice!! (and really like this song!)

[Ruth]

Your work always makes me stand back and think, woahhh..thats deep! lol
Always realistic emotion in there, always a walk down a dark avenue, great piece love
xx