Saturday, September 29, 2007

WHEN YOU’RE AT THE WAX MUSEUM














Dad will paint you a picture of potential
in one fluid brushstroke, years later
Mom will still crack you an egg
burn you some toast.

But don’t even think about that magazine rack,
it’s unrealistic and downright rude.
This isn’t a fertility clinic, you know,
and don’t ask about the son
who went to prison.

If you do:

Mom will say,
But it’s not like that,
someone boxed him in
at an early age.


If the son in question could join in,
he’d blame those damn Rose Art crayons & coloring books,
so unimaginative, when you stay within the lines.

Mom will pour some coffee and butter your toast.
Dad will talk about the massive layoffs in the auto industry.

One son will survive yet another round of cuts,
while the other son, smelling of wax,
will wait.

16 comments:

ivan@creativewriting.ca said...

This is so good that I'm asking myself, somewhat incredulosly (and not altogether fairly), where'd JR steal this? :)

geewits said...

Wow. I guess everyone knows a prison person. My husband's sister's ex-husband's brother killed the child of his girlfriend many years ago in a drug-fueled rage. I think he was on heroin and smacked the child against a toilet. I don't know why but your post made me think of that because the parents' two other kids are just regular normal people. At least that's what I got from your post.

Jo said...

JR, wow. All I can say. And you get the seal of approval from the professor as well.

Some folks don't do well when they have to stay within the lines, do they?

Anonymous said...

Great poem. The Road Not Taken, or The Road Least Traveled? On another note: How bout dem LIONS!!! Enjoyed your poem. MW:)

Beth said...

Sad - and got me thinking. Who (or what) would I blame if it were my son?

Anonymous said...

Jim, Good ole photo of Mom, you and I. Well I've survived this last go around earlier this year so you must be the one holding the wax and waiting patiently for the State of Michigan's Government to produce a budget. Looks like that will now happen but with higher income taxes and other increased taxes! Hopefully it will only be temporary! --Bro, Ron p.s. Yeah, how bout dem Lions. I watched the last quarter of da game and dey wan!!! :)

JR's Thumbprints said...

Bro,
I'm still holding the burning candle (down to the wick), and as everything falls into place, I'll still have the day off. So much for politics. Have a nice breakfast everyone!

JR's Thumbprints said...

Ahhh Hell, I gotta go to work.

Anonymous said...

Jim, Isn't it nice to go to work? I was up until 1:30am to watch the Government push ahead. You must of called the 800 # that said, Back to Work! :) --Bro, Ron

Erik Donald France said...

Both ends burning. Midnight oil. Presto -- excedllent poem, man!

the walking man said...

Now I know how to minimize the new taxes, have no taxable income and spend no money unnecessarily on services and goods, take a hike to Ohio for food and smokes and keep doing all I can to get the fuck out of michigan

Ian said...

jail keeper bumbler.

eric1313 said...

This was powerful.

You know my history, it could be my family, too--between a mom who can't balme her son for the things he was blamed for, to the auto industry sucker punching everyone when dad got his lay-off/cut-off.

Anonymous said...

Wow. I think everything is back to normal. What did we miss?

Ruth W. said...

Bummer, just when you were going to time for some fishing. I'm sure your students were happy to see you..lol

Cheri said...

Wow