Al Mitzler went to Deadwood
I had a friend. He had a wife. They had some children. They had a home. He saved money. Retirement would be early. They had a boat. He fished. They had plans. He was a nice guy. I liked him. He looked good. People liked him. There are a billion combinations to a formula that if only one were altered, this story would not be written. But Al Mitzler went to Deadwood.
annual,
this ride.
biannual
his life
bikers, babes
and beads.
everyone’s a superstar
-for a day.
“ya goin to Deadwood?”
the question
piqued
and probed
and roamed
on the wild wind
of midlife’s
cascade
work
the ol’ lady
money
desire
fear and apprehension
all took on a shrug
of noncommittal purpose without
but go he did
I had a friend. He had a wife. They had some children. They had a home. He saved money. Retirement would be early. They had a boat. He fished. They had plans. He was a nice guy. I liked him. He looked good. People liked him. There are a billion combinations to a formula that if only one were altered, this story would not be written. But Al Mitzler went to Deadwood.
annual,
this ride.
biannual
his life
bikers, babes
and beads.
everyone’s a superstar
-for a day.
“ya goin to Deadwood?”
the question
piqued
and probed
and roamed
on the wild wind
of midlife’s
cascade
work
the ol’ lady
money
desire
fear and apprehension
all took on a shrug
of noncommittal purpose without
but go he did
on
a last second whim
is there really any other kind?
Peggy’s wedding
wasn’t til next week,
work let him off,
the ol’ lady said go
and money was just portraits
of dead presidents on shit-green paper.
all the planets
in line, seemingly still
a last second whim
is there really any other kind?
Peggy’s wedding
wasn’t til next week,
work let him off,
the ol’ lady said go
and money was just portraits
of dead presidents on shit-green paper.
all the planets
in line, seemingly still
at warp speed
and the kids
who knows where
Al Mitzler
went to Deadwood
“I’ll see ya on Monday.”
a kiss and a smile
and on Monday
she did.
the day
warm-blasted their ride
and cold beer
doctored the fuel
that starry-eyed the night.
Sunday morning
is kind to bikes,
the highway
fat and lazy.
the music in his head
smiled his ride
and hid the mundane
of urban resettlement.
he looked to Jerry
off the port bow
smiled and drummed
the polished chrome
who knows where
Al Mitzler
went to Deadwood
“I’ll see ya on Monday.”
a kiss and a smile
and on Monday
she did.
the day
warm-blasted their ride
and cold beer
doctored the fuel
that starry-eyed the night.
Sunday morning
is kind to bikes,
the highway
fat and lazy.
the music in his head
smiled his ride
and hid the mundane
of urban resettlement.
he looked to Jerry
off the port bow
smiled and drummed
the polished chrome
to the remembrance
of Saturday night
perfection
he didn’t see the car-
that didn’t see the truck
that beasted blindly,
and the planets fell
out of orbit
as Al
fell out of life
and came home
riding coach.
the sun came up
on Tuesday.
work was work
jokes were funny
and the moon
didn’t so much
as hiccup or burp,
it just mooned as before.
“what a nice wedding.’
“yes, Peggy looks so happy.”
“shame about Al.”
“yeah, ya just never know.”
“I almost went with him, ya know?’
“you don’t say!”
Al Mitzler went to Deadwood.
he didn’t see the car-
that didn’t see the truck
that beasted blindly,
and the planets fell
out of orbit
as Al
fell out of life
and came home
riding coach.
the sun came up
on Tuesday.
work was work
jokes were funny
and the moon
didn’t so much
as hiccup or burp,
it just mooned as before.
“what a nice wedding.’
“yes, Peggy looks so happy.”
“shame about Al.”
“yeah, ya just never know.”
“I almost went with him, ya know?’
“you don’t say!”
Al Mitzler went to Deadwood.
~rick
