a party of one

when a local legend is forgotten and alone

a party of one

 

tv dinners with no tv

broken stereo sits on stacks of old

magazines

while tenant relives his dreams

just for something to do.

 

no work today

disorder running rampant

struggling to hold back tears

knowing family are but a few miles

away

but unaware.

 

he puts on his only winter coat

without patches

and limps down to the corner, where

the 3^rd Street Café welcomes him

with or without patches

folks buy him beers because he

used to be someone

a local celebrity

an icon.

 

penguins game over on bar tv

he packs his bag of 40 oz. dinner

under his arm and limps

back to his primeval abode

to host his

party of one.

 

riki © 2015

 

Reviews

[Alisa Js]

Aloha Dan,

Thank you for taking the time to comment on my work.

This one tells an all too familiar story of what happens when something goes wrong in life...a wrong turn perhaps, a detour that never was corrected, an unexpected event from which one never recovered...there are so many out there who are one step away from disaster, even with the best made plans.

The emotion in your piece is truly heart wrenching....

Loved it.

I'll be back soon,

Alisa ;-)

[dan]

Aloha Alisa, Thank you for taking the time to read and review this piece. I wear my heart on my sleeve, and the gentleman I've written about is very sad now, a shadow of his former self. I try to cheer him up when I can (he's a neighbor) but he's often a tough nut to crack. (No offense intended to him by saying that). I appreciate your thoughtful review and hope that you visit again in the future. take care...dan

[Alisa Js]

Hello Dan,

I enjoy your writing and will return.

Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts on my work as well.

Alisa ;-)

[Shane Mohamed]

This is quite emotional. It made me feel blessed to have what I have. Thank you for reminding us how fortunate we are. Thanks for sharing.

[dan]

Shane, Thank you so much for taking the time to read and review. I appreciate any feedback I get, good or not so good. I have bookmarked your page and will read some of your work later today. Thanks again! take care...dan (my real name)

[Kelly Scheppers]

This hauntingly reminds me of our homeless. You gave a pulse to the harsh reality that happens to so many, every day. Superb writing, Dan.

I have to ask...are you a Penguins fan?

[dan]

A HUGE penguins fan. I live about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, where I was born and raised and lived for my first 29 years. GO PENS!! Why do you want to know? Are YOU a pens fan too?

[Kelly Scheppers]

My son is a huge fan, I'm strictly a baseball / football fanatic! I'm NUTS about the BOLTS!

[dan]

A Chargers fan? Well, you DO live in San Diego....I like them just fine, as long as they're not playing the Steelers. Ask your son to tell me, "What's wrong with the Pens' power play lately? Besides all the injuries to key PP weapons, that is." Tell him that I met Sidney Crosby in a Pittsburgh restaurant. He was very generous with his time. See ya...dan

[Matching Socks]

You've painted such a vivid scene here. The sadness, the loneliness can be felt by the reader.
Wonderful!

[dan]

Ana, Yes this is one of my own favorites. When I wrote this my wife was at her daughter's for the weekend and I was a little bit lonely myself. That frame of mind served me well here. Thank you for the read and review. take care...dan

[Matching Socks]

You're welcome.

[MsJewel]

This is so sad....you have captured his lonliness so well. You have an amazing gift.

:) Julie

[dan]

Julie, I appreciate the read and review. Later this evening I plan on visiting some of my new Writers Café friends, you being one of them. Looking forward to more of your writing to review. take care....dan (by the way, dan is my real name; I registered here using a pen name, riki, but now wish I could change it back to dan but don't know how to. I'm going to try to learn how. Oh, and riki is my ferret's name)

[dan]

this is a sad story of someone in my past...a local celebrity.....now forgotten.