I don’t do it to be constructive.

I’m not trying to investigate anything,

just looking for some kicks, you know.

I think if I got into all that metaphysical crap

I’d definitely have a real bummer -

pauses long enough to swallow a Tandy Take -

I do think you learn a hell of a lot though.

then more seriously, as his eyes focus

on his amused listener,

and his bushy head comes forward a few inches,

seems to descend completely

into its nest of shoulder blade,

you know what I really get into

and its scares the shit out of me later …

I get into laughing at my self-destructiveness,

and how I could flip out and all,

and how this is a really big chance to be taking,

and you know what, as long as I keep laughing,

everything is very cool. If I got into that

‘What’s-it-all-about-shit’ you’re into

I’d have to stop laughing,

and I don’t know if I could go with that.

My point is though, that I’ve learned how to laugh

at myself real well, and I think

that’s pretty important, don’t you?

Craig Kirchner is retired and living in Jacksonville. Fl., because that’s where his grandchildren are. He loves the aesthetics of writing, has a book of poetry, Roomful of Navels and has been nominated three times for Pushcart. He was recently published in Decadent Review; Chiron Review, Queen’s Review, The Main Street Rag, Hamilton Stone Review, Yellow Mama, Black Petals and about eight dozen others. He houses 500 books in his office and about 400 poems on a laptop. These words help keep him straight.