Rage On! Poem by bob barci

Admittedly,
I didn’t know want to expect at first.
I sat at the first table by the door
when I walked in with a friend.
These stranger, all of them,
linked to me thru their written words.
But I was cool, calm, and collected.
I managed to sign in last to read my words.
I looked around the room,
just to check the people out.
My eyes were moving from table to table
when I realized that my friend was tugging at my arm,
and pointing at what had just walked in.
A tall woman, dressed in black, had entered.
She wore a long, floor length, black dress,
with a silver chain around her waist.
Her long, lion’s mane of hair was equally as black,
and hung past her shoulders.
My first reaction was to say to myself,
“Shoot. I thought that style went out in the sixties.”
For a minute, I forgot it was now considered quite punk or new wave.
But then, maybe she was a lyricist for a metal rock band.
I wondered if her name fit her appearance.
Unfortunately, I was in the men’s room when she was introduced.
All I know is, the place shook by her loud, booming voice.
God help anyone who didn’t listen up and pay very close attention!
I could picture her ordering a beer
and cracking 2 raw eggs into it,
and drinking it down in a single gulp.
Listen up to her tale of teenage lament!
She’s giving a quiz when she’s done!
She hates her parents with a passion
because of the name they gave her.
She reads and she reads
and never once does her voice falter.
And when she’s done,
she down another 2 egg beer,
and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand.
With a flash, without warning,
she is standing before me,
and her clenched fist meets the table,
“So, Dude, you like my poetry, don’t ya? ”,
her booming voice asks.
A million things suddenly race through my head.
My friend is of no help,
as he sits there, motionless,
and stares at her clenched fist.
And in all my macho manliness,
I break out into a cold sweat,
mumble something, definitely not in english,
and leave a puddle on the floor.
I am shown the door,
and I run, wildly,
from this woman’s rage.

Dedicated to J.D. Rage.