Mr.

On some day I met an old man and
talked with him for a while after he told me that
he had some things to tell me.

He said, don’t try to keep anything you’ll lose it all anyway,
I live in a small room with a kitchen, it has a stove,
it’s good to travel, you know, it changes your face
it makes your hands stronger and people will say
to you, oh you’re not from around here, are you,
and always stop for conversation, you see, my arm,
it got burned and there’s no pain like a burned limb, and
I was married once and she looked like a girl named Polly
but that wasn’t her name, if it happens to you
you won’t be able to stop smiling and
you’ll listen to songs on the radio, and smile harder,
and for once it won’t be about you and you’ll scream your thanks
to the sky and not even feel embarrassed, I have no shame,
I’ve lived, I’ve been the devil briefly and that’s how you learn,
and when it’s over, but it’s not yet, you’ll see that you lost it all anyway,
my room has a television, you should come over some time.

Cheryl Quimba