Continuing To Celebrate The Solemn Festival Of Life Poem by Charles Chaim Wax

As soon as I tottered into Meng’s
Sam said, “Bernstein, over here.”
Unbearable heat, the humidity a rabid beast
why I came in I don’t know.
I plopped down saying, “Hot as hell in here.”
“My doctor tells me don’t stay in the house, ” said Sam.
Then added: “I speak to my doctor every day.”
“If you had money you’d be better off, ” said Bill.
Sweat now burning my eyes. Blinking and blinking.
“We did everything wrong, ” said Sam
“We’re not the only ones, ” said Bill,
“there’s plenty like us.”
“Huey, ” I called out, “turn up
the air-conditioner.”
People suddenly stare, of course
no air-conditioning.
Sam and Bill without a whiff of moisture
on their seventy year old brows.
“I though I knew it all, ” said Sam
“If you didn’t get married you’d be better off.”
“I’m terrible alone.”
“I mean financially.”
Sam moaned, “I’d be nuts alone.”
“What about TV? ”
“I watch the radio
but mostly I don’t wanna work no more
have to or the money will be down to nothing.”
Twenty napkins already used up
still drenched, the lads still going strong.
Bill said, “What’s a matter, your brother, the big
financial wiz, Norman, can’t help you.”
“He tells me to stop eating
but you remember the blue hat?
I lost it
don’t know where.
If I found it
everything would be OK.”