All Talked Out

If you’d become a jar-head

Or a sailor on a cargo ship

And if you’d gotten in trouble

With the local cops

While stopped

On a small island

Off the coast of Greece…

Or what if

Your girlfriend got knocked up

And you made up you mind

That you could be a dad—

A better one than me—

“Whose that? Matt?

It that you?

Who’s that little guy

Ya’ got there?

No! Let me see…”

And while your mom holds the baby

Take a load off

And have a beer

I’d love to know

What you’ve been through.

Tell me. Let me hear.

I ran away

When I was just your age.

My poor folks? I never asked.

We’d tried for ages

To get along

But the good feeling would never last.

My old man would rear up on me

He’d scream and I would shout

But it was no use

We were out ‘a gas

We were all talked out.

Beside me while this train rocks

And the clock ticks

You’re looking for reasons to stay

But finding reasons to go

The moon rises

The moon sets

The sweet cider sours

And the old lawn just sprouts

The more we talk the talk we talk

The more we’re all talked out.

I left.

(You’ll leave--

we all leave--in time)

I caused my damage

And came home to discuss

The things I had witnessed

While riding the cusp.

My mother set a table

For a guest—for me.

Ready to hear the fables

Of my time lost at sea

I could relax in my seat

I was in the company of ghosts

With volumes to speak

Over mashed potatoes and roast.

Old wounds heal—

Take my word,

With nary a scar

That’s what it’s all about

Till you’re talking

To the heavens

And stars

You’ll not be all talked out.