Days of Beer and Melancholy

Long ago when I was young
Life seemed within my reach.
As was a mug of beer, my friend.
For it, too, had things to teach.

I truly was a know-it-all.
For the young believe they do.
And yet for all my knowledge,
My heart was sore and blue.

At the bar, my mug in hand
Amber liquid wetting my pain,
"American Pie" droning on
From a stale jukebox of bane.

I watched some guys shoot pool,
Making cosmic color streaks
Bringing to mind the chaos
This crazy life can wreak.

Another chug, wipe the foam
White on my lip once more.
If only I had knowledge then
What life had for me in store.

I worried about the future.
And I wept in silver tears.
Little did I know the gifts
I'd discover through the years.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ME

Other people think I'm a little off beat.
Maybe it's because I'm not very neat.
My hair is fly away; my clothes are wrinkled.
But my smile is big, and my face is dimpled.

They think of me as a goody-two-shoes.
If I don't act right, I'm afraid I'll lose!
I try to be funny, and I try to be fair.
But some still think I'm pretty darn square.

I'm gentle. I'm quiet. I'm darn well smart.
I generally try to speak from my heart.
I'm really a loner, a real life ascetic.
Some people think I'm pretty pathetic.

I don't care about that. It ain't so bad.
They're still my friends, of that I'm glad.
And if they need me, they can be sure
I'll come running to their front door.
~~~~~~~~

A Stream of Stars

I knew it when you walked away
to fly to other places.
I spied the sun on your golden hair
and reminisced about your sapphire eyes
like jewels that inspire the lonely feeling
contained in the darkness of night.

Surely you were magical
stirring up a beautiful spell
in your caldron of charms and glitters
emanating in a stream of stars
across the rivers and valleys to my heart.
I knew it when you walked away
to fly to other places.
I knew you would send a glimmering missive
that read simply, "I love you."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Copyright 2002 Jo Ann English Janoski.

Photo copyright Jo Janoski