Devoted exclusively to the creative process. Here you will see photojournaling, poetry, prose, an occasional review--journaling or philosophical writing can be found on our other blogs. This is our attempt to use our imaginations. Enjoy!

Thursday, April 06, 2006

for whoever....

i count the lines on my hand
and watch my footprints in the sand
and all my schemes as yet unplanned
as they float upon the breeze.

they talk of me in tones now hushed
with words that ramble and are rushed
like toilet paper to be flushed
as i crawl upon my knees.

those humble servants of commerce
who genuflect and promptly curse
i wonder who is really worse
the beggar or the thief?

the lines are so clearly writ
and in those lines i have to sit
my brain and soul can't benefit
from this lack of belief.

they tell me that the trouble is
i'm far too old for this young mans biz
i've gone to seed and lost my fiz
like bubbles in the sky.

any employer now worth his salt
will wash his hands of any fault
and tell me i'm just not his sort
and that's the reason why.

but i simply don't accept these truths
from the mouths of callow youths
whose infant eyes i'd like to bruise
with my fist firmly placed.

experience and ability still
are a worthy tool and priceless skill
and far from being over the hill
it's my industry that's disgraced.


from a retort to when I was made redundant


words by cocaine jesus

10 comments:

Capegirl said...

loved that really. good for you CJ!

Inkblot said...

mixed emotions and lots of fight, and who gives a damn about those lines...they change.

spirited rhyme.

I'd say the beggar...tough choice tho!

Russell CJ Duffy said...

capegirl...

inky....

girls. thanks. nine months ago now and i'm back and punching my weight!

velvetgunther said...

"whose infant eyes i'd like to bruise
with my fist firmly placed"

When i left my last job, I felt the same way, although I wouldnt really say infant eyes, because he was older than me.

Good to see you back doing fine again

Russell CJ Duffy said...

VG>>>sadly most guys (nowadays) are younger than me!

Cliff said...

CJ,

I echo VG's favorite line there, though I also really like the imagery in the beginning. As a non-poet, I don't know how you poets do it. This was really great. I've always pictured you as 20-something or early 30, CJ (in a good way). Don't know why, so your comment about your age was a surprise.

Russell CJ Duffy said...

cliff>>>one year younger than Joe Strummer (rest his punk soul) and two years older than John Lydon. 52 about a week ago and proud of it. age is meaningless.
'hope i die before i get old' is still true to me. my interpretation of the words is this...when i get so blinkered and crabby and biased, and when i get judgemental and tired THEN i will be truly old. am i aging? course i am. still have the same dislike of racisim and sexism that i had when i was thirteen and still want to see some of those sixties liberal notions put into play.
and yes, still banging on!

Blue Athena said...

This is so very neat, CJ! :)

Russell CJ Duffy said...

blue athena>>>i am very neat. just ask my wife...on second thoughts better not, she might spill the beans!

Russell CJ Duffy said...

silvermoon>>>flattery will get you everywhere!