John Grey

 John Grey is an Australian born poet, playwright, musician. US resident since late 70’s. Latest book is What Else Is There  from Main Street Rag. Recently in Agni, Drexel Online Review and Arkansas Review with work upcoming in South Carolina Review, Hubbub and Sojourn.

HEROES AND VILLAINS

When the old man wanders off.

I find him before he does himself

real harm.

I am the hero for a day.

And I bring home flowering plants

in a crystal vase,

place it center table.

For an hour or so,

the family gathers around to smell.

And then I am blamed for something,

and it's the good things

that forget themselves,

go roaming the streets,

while the unholy stench is around for days

That's when the voices

really do come out in chorus

with malice, the invidious conductor.

There must be more of us in quarrels

than in good deeds, I'm thinking.

Still, we do get by.

The anger, the accusations die down.

We move into this neutral world

when the sun takes over,

then the temperature, and the light

and the surroundings.

But then the old man is gone again

or I spy a particularly lovely

bouquet in a florist's window

and the process starts over.

It's as if time is hungry

for why you love me,

is sated by why you don't.