tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69679066495021341602024-03-18T18:12:23.090-04:00poetry and prose by stephen chuteStephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.comBlogger30823125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-43921745974952181972024-03-18T18:11:00.002-04:002024-03-18T18:11:36.369-04:00cake on a paper platewill i ever<div>conquer my fear </div><div>of public speaking?</div><div>no.</div><div>and i have</div><div>no plans to overcome</div><div>this psychosis.</div><div>which is fine.</div><div>i have no ambition</div><div>for public office,</div><div>no plans to be the best</div><div>man at some wedding,</div><div>or deliver a eulogy at</div><div>someone's funeral.</div><div>i'll be in the back row,</div><div>eating cake</div><div>on a paper plate,</div><div>near the door</div><div>with the sign over head</div><div>in red,</div><div>saying exit.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-17560321093787229352024-03-18T18:07:00.000-04:002024-03-18T18:07:00.744-04:00no milk for youwhen<div>you call and i pick up</div><div>and say</div><div>hello</div><div>and you don't answer,</div><div>with your</div><div>number restricted,</div><div>and i just</div><div>hear </div><div>you breathing into</div><div>the phone,</div><div>making strange</div><div>cat like noises,</div><div>meows</div><div>and scratches,</div><div>don't you think that</div><div>i know who it is?</div><div>but it's too late dear,</div><div>no milk</div><div>for you.</div><div><br /></div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-67050049436886993802024-03-18T18:01:00.001-04:002024-03-18T18:01:18.061-04:00perpetual strangerswe're all strangers<div>to each other,</div><div>even after twenty years of marriage,</div><div>or a lifetime </div><div>of friendship,</div><div>we still</div><div>can't figure out</div><div>who someone really is.</div><div>sure, we know their habits,</div><div>how they like</div><div>their tea,</div><div>and toast, </div><div>their eggs over easy.</div><div>how they like to read</div><div>at night.</div><div>we know the sounds they</div><div>make</div><div>when they sleep,</div><div>the position they lie in</div><div>when the lights go out.</div><div>we know</div><div>where they like to walk</div><div>during the day,</div><div>which path</div><div>to take and</div><div>which bench to sit on</div><div>when circling</div><div>the lake,</div><div>but the truth of the matter is</div><div>is that we</div><div>have no clue</div><div>what they're all about, </div><div>we think we know them,</div><div>but it's often</div><div>a mistake.</div><div><br /></div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-10317250303887071722024-03-18T07:34:00.000-04:002024-03-18T07:34:06.110-04:00a long way until 7 a.m.the three<div>a.m. wake up is annoying.</div><div>there is nothing</div><div>going on in</div><div>my life that warrants</div><div>a three a.m.</div><div>wake up.</div><div>i stare</div><div>at the clock</div><div>and sigh,</div><div>really?</div><div>now?</div><div>i punch the pillow,</div><div>and roll</div><div>over.</div><div>i roll over some more.</div><div>i lift my head</div><div>and look</div><div>at the clock again,</div><div>five minutes have gone by.</div><div>it's along</div><div>way until 7 a.m. .</div><div>and suddenly everything</div><div>is on my mind.</div><div><br /></div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-50961282628436530532024-03-18T07:29:00.002-04:002024-03-18T07:29:59.273-04:00dr. feel goodas i sit on the examination<div>table</div><div>waiting for the doctor</div><div>to arrive</div><div>i notice</div><div>behind the locked glass</div><div>cabinet</div><div>bottles of pills, all marked</div><div>with labels</div><div>and ready</div><div>to go.</div><div>one says happy pills,</div><div>the other</div><div>says, crazy pills, another</div><div>says,</div><div>fat pills, fear pills,</div><div>and on and on.</div><div>skinny pills, depressed pills,</div><div>lonely pills,</div><div>blurred vision pills,</div><div>upset stomach pills,</div><div>confused pills.</div><div>and then there's a large</div><div>bottle that reads,</div><div>everything pills.</div><div>give me one of those</div><div>i tell the doctor when he</div><div>comes in with his</div><div>stethoscope.</div><div><br /></div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-47169360266637383802024-03-18T07:22:00.002-04:002024-03-18T07:22:50.090-04:00the newcomersthe condo board<div>has agreed to an open door policy</div><div>for all</div><div>the residents living</div><div>in the community.</div><div>no more locks on your doors,</div><div>no more bars on your windows.</div><div>anyone from anywhere,</div><div>criminal or not can come</div><div>into your home,</div><div>front door or back,</div><div>night or day,</div><div>eat, sleep, drink and live</div><div>in your house for free,</div><div>for as long as they want to,</div><div>without paying a</div><div>single penny.</div><div>come one come all.</div><div>it's the right thing to do.</div><div>slide over for a family</div><div>of five, let's all make room</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-16799525971156287772024-03-17T19:30:00.002-04:002024-03-17T19:32:39.804-04:00St. Patty's Dayi forgot it was St. Patty's day,<div>until i saw</div><div>a group of trashed</div><div>men</div><div>and women</div><div>wearing shiny emerald</div><div>colored</div><div>derbies and throwing</div><div>up green</div><div>beer</div><div>and bangers and mash</div><div>in the alley</div><div>behind Murphy's Pub</div><div>on King Street.</div><div>then it occurred to me,</div><div>oh yeah.</div><div>it's St. Patrick's Day again.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-17390284605360170582024-03-17T19:26:00.001-04:002024-03-17T19:35:16.994-04:00signing the divorce documentshe said,<div>as she signed the divorce</div><div>papers,</div><div>looking up</div><div>at me,</div><div>and snarling.</div><div>i wish,</div><div>i wish, she said,</div><div>grumbling,</div><div>that i had married a lawyer</div><div>or a doctor,</div><div>or someone like Elon</div><div>Musk, or</div><div>Bill Gates,</div><div>instead of you.</div><div>why, i ask her.</div><div>because of the love and</div><div>affection they would</div><div>give you?</div><div>no, no.</div><div>because then the alimony</div><div>would be a lot</div><div>more</div><div>than what you can give</div><div>me with your lame</div><div>occupation.</div><div>i was a fool to hitch my</div><div>wagon</div><div>to the likes of you.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-32452841164384922242024-03-17T19:20:00.001-04:002024-03-17T19:20:33.519-04:00on the attacki set the block of wood<div>from the fallen</div><div>tree</div><div>onto the ground</div><div>and swing</div><div>the axe.</div><div>snapping it in two,</div><div>then threes.</div><div>bang bang bang, i go</div><div>at it all day.</div><div>my shoulders and back,</div><div>my arms,</div><div>lifting and striking</div><div>again and again.</div><div>every muscle in my body</div><div>working</div><div>for hours,</div><div>going on the attack,</div><div>and then the sun sets</div><div>and i'm done.</div><div>i've cleared my head</div><div>and heart once more.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-58959224954879162872024-03-17T19:12:00.002-04:002024-03-17T19:12:37.111-04:00worms into three<div><br /></div>as kids, did we feel<div>bad</div><div>about the worms we sliced</div><div>into three</div><div>with our pocket knife,</div><div>having dug</div><div>them up in the yard</div><div>in the early morning,</div><div>before walking</div><div>to the river.</div><div>not really.</div><div>each piece seemed</div><div>to be no</div><div>worse off than the others,</div><div>still squirming</div><div>and curling</div><div>themselves up</div><div>into fleshy balls.</div><div>we were budget fishing,</div><div>so we had little</div><div>choice in the matter.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-6591830142313888862024-03-17T19:07:00.003-04:002024-03-17T19:08:01.581-04:00about damn timethe interest<div>wanes</div><div>in many things, as you age.</div><div>what</div><div>seemed</div><div>important</div><div>is no longer on your mind.</div><div>you've discovered</div><div>the power</div><div>of walking away,</div><div>of ignoring, </div><div>of paying</div><div>no attention</div><div>to what the world</div><div>falsely offers,</div><div>you're ambivalent</div><div>and free</div><div>at last,</div><div>it's about damn time.</div><div><br /></div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-6654587648589361802024-03-17T12:59:00.010-04:002024-03-17T13:11:07.875-04:00getting my first facialmy friend<div>Jelly Bean, gives me a free</div><div>gift coupon</div><div>for a facial.</div><div>which makes me look</div><div>deeply</div><div>into the mirror to see</div><div>what's wrong.</div><div>do i really look like a gargoyle</div><div>now?</div><div>oh, no, no, she says.</div><div>it's nothing like that, </div><div>you look great, you</div><div>look young</div><div>for your age,</div><div>but this will make</div><div>you look even better.</div><div>oh, i say. okay.</div><div>so they lay me down</div><div>and start scrubbing my</div><div>face with</div><div>a lava rock,</div><div>heated from a charcoal</div><div>grill.</div><div>i know now how the islanders</div><div>on Pompeii felt</div><div>when Vesuvius exploded.</div><div>next comes</div><div>more heat,</div><div>a steamy wet towel </div><div>that they pick up with tongs</div><div>to strap across</div><div>my face from</div><div>ear to ear.</div><div>then some sort of wax,</div><div>then a painful peel.</div><div>my hands</div><div>grip the side of the gurney,</div><div>as tears</div><div>roll down my face.</div><div>there's four women talking</div><div>in Taiwanese</div><div>standing at the table,</div><div>i catch the words 'baby man' </div><div>as their little hands get busy</div><div>on my face.</div><div>then a cold cream is applied.</div><div>green like </div><div>the split pea soup my mother</div><div>used to make.</div><div>an hour later</div><div>they scrape that off, hardened</div><div>like a cake,</div><div>then they wash what's left of</div><div>my skin away.</div><div>hosing me down</div><div>with an antiseptic spray.</div><div>wobbly, i stand up and take</div><div>a look in the mirror.</div><div>i look exactly the same</div><div>except with no eyebrows</div><div>and maybe a little older</div><div>from the stress.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-88395770538755717862024-03-17T12:53:00.003-04:002024-03-17T12:53:37.919-04:00the ides of Marchdo i fear<div>the ides of march,</div><div>like Caesar.</div><div>no.</div><div>it's always been a good</div><div>time of the year</div><div>for me.</div><div>big changes,</div><div>sea</div><div>changes.</div><div>relationships</div><div>and jobs.</div><div>i turn the ship around</div><div>and head</div><div>for calmer</div><div>waters,</div><div>the 15th</div><div>of March, please,</div><div>please, please,</div><div>bring it on.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-68416052711504247122024-03-17T12:51:00.001-04:002024-03-17T12:51:13.472-04:00flying monkeys airlinethings<div>are falling off of planes,</div><div>wheels,</div><div>doors.</div><div>engines are on fire.</div><div>delays and lines.</div><div>the fares</div><div>are up, you have</div><div>to pay</div><div>more for heavy luggage</div><div>but not</div><div>if you have an</div><div>enormous two seat</div><div>behind.</div><div>the nuts</div><div>are stale,</div><div>the water warm,</div><div>the plane</div><div>waitresses are mean</div><div>and nasty</div><div>yelling at you for not</div><div>having your</div><div>seat belt on.</div><div>people are drunk and</div><div>fighting.</div><div>give me the flying </div><div>monkeys</div><div>please.</div><div>have two of them</div><div>grab me by the arms</div><div>and drop me off where</div><div>i need to go.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-53505712995348504692024-03-17T12:38:00.002-04:002024-03-17T12:39:10.384-04:00an 'adult' cruise trip<div>needing a vacation,</div><div>we sign up</div><div>for an all inclusive trip</div><div>to the islands.</div>but we're a little naive,<div>so when we</div><div>board the 'adult' cruise ship,</div><div>we have no</div><div>idea what the word</div><div>'adult'</div><div>entails.</div><div>does that mean no children</div><div>are on board</div><div>the ship?</div><div>sounds good, but</div><div>everyone keeps putting</div><div>words into</div><div>air quotes, asking</div><div>us if we 'swing'</div><div>do we 'swap'</div><div>'soft swap or hard swap'.</div><div>how deeply do we</div><div>want to get 'involved'.</div><div>we look</div><div>at each other and </div><div>shrug.</div><div>they all seem like hipsters</div><div>in their</div><div>flamboyant get ups,</div><div>overtly sexy</div><div>and transparent.</div><div>we're wearing</div><div>loafers</div><div>and windbreakers.</div><div>golf shorts from J.C. Pennys.</div><div>we're hungry though, so we</div><div>ask, does anyone know where</div><div>the lobster</div><div>line is,</div><div>putting the word 'lobster'</div><div>into air quotes.</div><div>we're starting to catch on.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-42050322490422816222024-03-16T14:59:00.002-04:002024-03-16T14:59:18.609-04:00don't give a flying figwe all want<div>what we don't have.</div><div>to be a few inches taller,</div><div>a few</div><div>pounds lighter,</div><div>maybe smarter,</div><div>or richer.</div><div>prettier.</div><div>maybe more articulate</div><div>and funny.</div><div>we're the only species</div><div>perpetually</div><div>dissatisfied with who</div><div>we really are.</div><div>the rest of the worlds</div><div>life forms</div><div>don't give a flying</div><div>fig about</div><div>such nonsense.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-11176222320105435412024-03-16T14:53:00.003-04:002024-03-16T14:53:59.149-04:00coming sooneventually<div>there will be no books,</div><div>no newspapers,</div><div>no magazines.</div><div>no libraries.</div><div>no schools,</div><div>no teachers,</div><div>no places of higher learning.</div><div>when you're born,</div><div>your mother</div><div>will just hand the latest</div><div>phone,</div><div>and off you go.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-57582982453635058642024-03-16T14:50:00.002-04:002024-03-16T14:51:26.306-04:00the opium denit's the new<div>opium den,</div><div>the flop house</div><div>where</div><div>everyone is stoned</div><div>and</div><div>staring</div><div>into space. drooling</div><div>at the next</div><div>flickering post on</div><div>tik tok,</div><div>5 G, yo.</div><div>it's the new place</div><div>to go</div><div>to lose</div><div>your mind, waste</div><div>your time,</div><div>come out the other</div><div>side,</div><div>into the blinding</div><div>light</div><div>then stagger sideways,</div><div>trying to</div><div>figure out</div><div>the rest of your life.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-81962980127717460532024-03-16T14:44:00.005-04:002024-03-16T14:46:09.870-04:00you can't wear red everydayyou can't wear red<div>everyday.</div><div>it's too much,</div><div>too bright, too flashy,</div><div>too much</div><div>drama</div><div>for around the clock</div><div>fashion.</div><div>maybe Friday night,</div><div>okay.</div><div>when we get home.</div><div>and the lights</div><div>are low</div><div>with the music on.</div><div>maybe something soft</div><div>and sultry</div><div>by Marvin Gaye. </div><div>then put the red on.</div><div>give me a wink</div><div>if it's a go.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-47049257352368374172024-03-16T10:12:00.003-04:002024-03-16T10:12:44.286-04:00we're working in the yard today<div>from the bed, stretching,</div>i watched<div>as she put on her plastic</div><div>white</div><div>boots, and overalls,</div><div>and said.</div><div>what are you doing?</div><div>is it snowing</div><div>outside.</div><div>i looked out the window.</div><div>it was sunny</div><div>and seventy.</div><div>these are my snake boots,</div><div>she said,</div><div>then grabbed</div><div>a pitch fork from under</div><div>her bed.</div><div>come on, she said.</div><div>let's go,</div><div>we're working in the yard</div><div>today.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-41019217926406061312024-03-16T10:07:00.004-04:002024-03-16T10:09:18.137-04:00is there access to the fire escape?the first<div>thing i look for when</div><div>i go to a party</div><div>is the exit.</div><div>the fire escape,</div><div>is there a window</div><div>i can crawl out of,</div><div>a back door.</div><div>how can i get out</div><div>of here</div><div>after twelve seconds</div><div>of small talk</div><div>and shaking hands</div><div>with strangers.</div><div>if not for the scallops</div><div>and water</div><div>chestnuts</div><div>wrapped in bacon,</div><div>i'd be gone by now</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-49456375659226321802024-03-16T10:03:00.000-04:002024-03-16T10:03:00.088-04:00oh, just get it over withmaybe the world<div>should just</div><div>have </div><div>the big war and get it over</div><div>with.</div><div>i'm tired</div><div>of the news,</div><div>walking on eggshells</div><div>with</div><div>China this, Russia that,</div><div>North Korea,</div><div>Iran</div><div>Iraq.</div><div>what the hell, somebody</div><div>just push the button</div><div>and</div><div>get the show on the road.</div><div>it might be the only</div><div>way to save</div><div>the world.</div><div>start fresh, back to</div><div>the jungle</div><div>we all go, but</div><div>without the bombs this time.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-15790453978767588402024-03-16T09:59:00.002-04:002024-03-16T09:59:59.192-04:00all her friends are rappersall of her friends<div>have</div><div>nicknames,</div><div>JP,</div><div>LB, Billy Z,</div><div>Donna G.</div><div>Toni T.</div><div>it's a swirling </div><div>conversation of alphabet</div><div>soup,</div><div>when she's spilling</div><div>the beans about them.</div><div>i think they</div><div>might all be rappers,</div><div>but i'm not sure.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-23673199706367981032024-03-16T09:55:00.003-04:002024-03-16T09:55:54.330-04:00the Frankenstein eraeverything<div>is replaceable now.</div><div>when a part fails</div><div>a new</div><div>one is screwed in.</div><div>knees</div><div>and hips, any joint</div><div>that ails you.</div><div>hearts,</div><div>kidneys.</div><div>they can suck the fat</div><div>right out of you</div><div>if you want to</div><div>flatten that belly full</div><div>of Debbie Cakes.</div><div>new eyes,</div><div>new skin, new noses.</div><div>just line up, limp</div><div>in and pay </div><div>the man.</div><div>get your baby</div><div>out of a test tube,</div><div>freeze your embryos,</div><div>put your sperm in</div><div>the ice box</div><div>next to the butter and eggs.</div><div>they'll even chop off</div><div>your head</div><div>and freeze it for you,</div><div>when it's time for</div><div>the end.</div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967906649502134160.post-13848961600052707052024-03-15T19:20:00.000-04:002024-03-15T19:20:03.303-04:00the unsigned note under the door<div>i find the slip</div><div>of paper</div><div>under the door.</div>it's your loss.<div>she says, </div><div><br /></div><div>you'll be sorry</div><div>you</div><div>let me go</div><div>and didn't treat</div><div>me like a queen.</div><div>you'll lie awake at night</div><div>and wonder</div><div>what i'm </div><div>doing, who i'm with,</div><div><br /></div><div>it'll be the worst</div><div>mistake you ever</div><div>made in letting me go</div><div>and calling</div><div>me crazy.</div><div><br /></div><div>you'll see,</div><div>just wait, you'll see.</div><div>farewell, good luck, so long.</div><div><br /></div><div>i look up and down</div><div>the street,</div><div>but for the life of me,</div><div>i can't figure</div><div>out who wrote this note.</div><div><br /></div>Stephen Chutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193662504766328319noreply@blogger.com0