Barney (A Poem)

It wasn't the gout
He should have been worried about
It was the crack and booze
With his inability to eat
And his inability to snooze

The first sign that he should retire
Was his constant propensity to perspire
The second sign that he should refrain
Was the swollen ankle that looked in grave pain
Maybe he's waiting for the third sign to quit
When his whole body decides that's enough
And throws a big fit.

It wasn't the gout
He should have been worried about
It was the booze and crack
What do you think about that?
It doesn't matter ... He doesn't care.
Tomorrow it'll be like he wasn't even there.

by Cheryl Duggan
May 3, 2013 (Original Publication Date)