lonely <br />dropped a word to me today <br /> <br />said <br /> <br />you wrote a poem about me thanks <br />yesterday so <br />I wanted to explain myself <br /> <br />especially as they’re discussing me right now <br />in academic though wobbly drawn circles <br /> <br />the older guys say I’m a Concept <br />and therefore existed <br />before Shakespeare found a name for me, while <br />the younger guys <br />the So-Sures and the Deriders <br />say I’m merely a Signifier with <br />an uneasy relationship <br />with a Signified or <br />if you’re into that sort of abstruse joke, <br />a Significant Other <br /> <br />deep in myself <br />I’m One; that is, <br />an individual in one sense <br />but Everything, All One, in another theological <br />or philosophical or ontological sense <br />which feels pretty good, <br />a One without a Second <br />say the gurus <br /> <br />to illustrate my point <br />I’m writing this on the pommel of my saddle <br />riding the range out here where men are men <br />and no-one mentions that film; <br />Nashville on my i-pod, <br />Lonesome himself, <br />my chosen state of states, <br />the Iconic All-American <br />free as a wild mustang in the hills <br /> <br />though sometimes I’m just <br />Lonely <br />waiting for that ride into town and <br />the bar where everyone knows my name <br />and the barmaid says she waits for me alone <br />if it’s the third Thursday in the month <br /> <br />Lonesome. Lonely. Close. <br />That’s the West for you. <br />And someOne has to do the job. <br /> <br />* * * <br /> <br />(For Will the poet and Will the barber with thanks)<br /><br />Michael Shepherd<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/0002-lonely-dropped-me-a-word/
