Odd Jobs

My best friend just called-

he is accompanying a dead body

met this am at the airport;

borrowed ambulance,

a favor to the muni. Emergency.

10 hour round trip,

including the paperwork.

There is always

Damned paperwork with bodies.

Men find ways to create work

for others, even after

respiration ceases.

Here, we redefine community

by asking human help, favors-

usually reserved for professionals

in more (or less?) civilized places.

N

Humanity seems closer

to the surface of things here.

more under your skin. We do

for each other, there is no

turning away, not helping.

Can you travel an hour to help me

harvest peppers in the dark ?

asks my most random friend.

With anyone else, this would be

a euphemism, not us crawling

on hands and knees,

picking pecks of peppers

By moonlight. The shared intimacy

of human space. I dressed

and bathed the same friend

when he was injured. Body knowledge,

non-sexual. Rarely encountered

where I am from.

There is hilarity. Amiga, tu aviso,

says one, a councilman.

A man came home drunk last night,

started screwing his mother in law,

hen his wife found him.

Has Anyone asked why

the old lady said nothing

to stop him? I ponder- You may want

to start there.

Help me design a chicken coop...

Can you give my aging mother a massage...

I need to do 30 flower arrangements for a wedding...

Can you hold my hand, I am scared...

I need help boiling a toxic brew to kill thrips...

My dog needs a c section...

Mu daughter needs to learn self-esteem...

Can you design me an advertisement...

Some days, it is good to feel useful

like this, in my own skin. Needed.

My 10 year old sister

is being molested by our dad...

We think she Is pregnant...

how can we get her away

so nobody knows his secret?

Other days are like firewalking

and I want to burn the human race

to the f*****g ground.

And to the devil with

your documentation.

It may be a great favor to us all.

Author's Note

A nod to LJW

Reviews

[Emily B]

I am pondering a question this pm as well, schizophrenic called 911 at least five times in eight hours, thinks his apartment is haunted, I know how to help, but don't know my place yet, authorities might not see the wisdom of prayer in such a situation

pray for me

[Marie Anzalone]

Consider prayers and energies sent

[daninstockholm]

So strong! I love how this poem is built. Your creative use of imagery and language is brilliant. This is how poems are done!!

[Emily B]

I am pondering a question this pm as well, schizophrenic called 911 at least five times in eight hours, thinks his apartment is haunted, I know how to help, but don't know my place yet, authorities might not see the wisdom of prayer in such a situation

pray for me

[Emily B]

I am pondering a question this pm as well, schizophrenic called 911 at least five times in eight hours, thinks his apartment is haunted, I know how to help, but don't know my place yet, authorities might not see the wisdom of prayer in such a situation

pray for me

[Emily B]

I am pondering a question this pm as well, schizophrenic called 911 at least five times in eight hours, thinks his apartment is haunted, I know how to help, but don't know my place yet, authorities might not see the wisdom of prayer in such a situation

pray for me

[Emily B]

I am pondering a question this pm as well, schizophrenic called 911 at least five times in eight hours, thinks his apartment is haunted, I know how to help, but don't know my place yet, authorities might not see the wisdom of prayer in such a situation

pray for me

[Emily B]

I am pondering a question this pm as well, schizophrenic called 911 at least five times in eight hours, thinks his apartment is haunted, I know how to help, but don't know my place yet, authorities might not see the wisdom of prayer in such a situation

pray for me

[Emily B]

I am pondering a question this pm as well, schizophrenic called 911 at least five times in eight hours, thinks his apartment is haunted, I know how to help, but don't know my place yet, authorities might not see the wisdom of prayer in such a situation

pray for me