poem of the day 02.15.09

how old am i?

46 i tell him
you don’t look a day older
than 46.
how old do you think i am?
he asks ally
i’ll say 47
what did you say?
no 46
what?
i’m going with what he said
ally says, pointing at me
so you both think i’m 46?
yes
he turns back toward his drink
well, how old are you? i ask.
i don’t want to know
i just want this done
so i can finish my beer
and order a pizza.
i’m 60.
no shit?
no shit.
here.
he hands me his wallet.
his whole wallet!
i give it back.
what are you doing, man? i ask.
fine. fine.
he opens the wallet and shows
me his license.
what’s it say? he asks.
1948, i say.
i’m 60.
almost 61.
well, how old are you.
35.
and you? he points at ally.
31. i’ll be 32.
then he goes back to his drink.
you want to call for that pizza now?
i ask ally.
sure.
so she does.
i watch the bar lights
and the full bottles of rum
that no one here seems to drink.
that’s when he turns back to me.
did you know i was
in ‘nam too?
no.
no?
that’s what i said.
yeah. well, guess what years
i was in ‘nam?