David
Let me tell you about David
David was a kid I used to play with
back in Primary School we used to end our days with
high 5’s
raise a Tip-Top to future lives
choose our favourite members of 5-Star for our future wives
we both had sisters bout the same age
both had family coming here from overseas
the demographic same page
same rage
in our heads from lack of role-model
neither of us shut out
neither one molly-coddled
tight
taking turns for staying overnight
staying up late talking bout what the future might yield
him with the sword
me with the shield
spit on the palm the friendship was sealed
we hit 11 and we split
moved house, new crowd, new school
the same normal shit
next time I saw him we were 17 taking a hit
house party cheap booze and weed the full bit
he told me bout his brand new Nova with full kit
had a laugh remember we could both do the full splits
a weak moustache on top lip
above a broad smile lifting kiwi 20/20 full sip
he said he didn’t do exams
obviously the weight of expectation didn’t fit into his plans
he’d rather do stuff with his hands
said he had plans to lay brick, squeeze tits and sip cans
I told him I was off to college to learn
he told me he was off to the car park to burn
and just like that he was gone
the guy who helped me put my Batman suit on
is now a new poem
I blink and I’m 21
back home, fully grown, running and studying all done
life lessons mixed in with fun
that’s all good and well but when it comes to the plans
I’ve got none
man I’ve got the wallet of a nun
my mind is confused my body bruised and abused my head spun
pub
couple of Guinness and cheap grub
out on the street I feel the base of a real sub
woofer
guess who it is, he calls my name
he looks completely different yet some how the same
we play the idle chit-chat game
then he tells me to get in and pulls off rubber and raw flame
‘Oh you’re smart now? Can pick my simple mind apart now?
lifting up the seat, get out the bath to fart now?’
I stay shut
and fight the angry feeling in my gut
the truth is the pair of us are plainly in a rut
two paths, a few laughs, equal shares of skids
he pulls out his wallet and shows me his 2 kids
‘Jesus Dave, you’re a dad. Who’s the mother?’
‘One with the first girl, next with another’
I’m feeling like a copper undercover
out of place, but somehow like this guy’s my own brother and
man it’s not even a thing
whatever we’ve done since we both have our wounds that still sting
I still keep my father’s ring and David?
David still worries about what flowers to bring
‘Pop in the tape lets have a sing. Remember this old thing?’
‘STOP!’
‘What?’
‘Hammer Time!’
we cruise around the old streets
first kiss, first spliff, shop where the pair of us stole sweets
I get to thinking these are the beats to people’s lives
me still searching for something to feel alive
David just got out of ‘The Green’ on 3-5
and as I get out the car
I blink and I’m 25.
so you blink and you’re 25
and you’ve forgotten many things that used to make you feel alive
open you’re eyes you’re 35, with little lives
that you now have to love provide and guide
turn around you’re 45, and a woman who used to be an angel is lying by your side
blink twice you’re 55, 65, and it seems like things move too quickly for your eyes
they say it’s the foolish man who tries to fight the bright light that appears
through the grey of stormy skies
through all the secrets and the lies
you start to realise
a knowledge of self is true wise
© Polarbear 2009
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