Dead On Arrival (for Joe O'Keefe) Oct. 8, 2023

the well-crafted phrasing

which waters the eyes of poets

and others of the creative art

doesn’t faze the red ones

of this rowdy group

he can tell his poem is in trouble

their voices over-shout his

their words heavily applauded

their faces focused on curses

sarcasm and stupid fun

the poet senses they want

not lyrics but limerick

something to bellow and

swing a full glass to

cavort with a favorite emotion

as he finishes his kicker last verse

and wanders off stage

they clap and whistle wildly

their sendoff - that old-fashioned

Irish pub “barbeque”

of an Irish poet

that hopefully earned him

the smile of a free beer

or two or three

fourfive...