An Ode To My Inner Maniac

It was you who
in the growing years
listened not to the chants of "cool" conformity
or the following cries of "loser" and "nerd,"

but followed faithfully the library songs
full of gallant heroes,
distant lands cultured and exotic,
and titanic principles of humanity, courage, and serenity!!

I admit it was you
who jettisoned scholarly arrogance and found friends in
eccentric young long-haired wanderers
as well as ancient-minded old men
in dirt-crusted workboots.

It was you
who cast away timid etiquette and jostled
a seat at the lobster banquet of life!,
who braved the burn of fire-water
and arm-in-arm with merry comrades
made of many a street
a midnight choir hall.

Yes, it was you who smoothly begged cigarettes of
dainty, shapely perfumed creatures,
who told them Tales of gigantic thai lizards
and of following drug-dogs in airports.

But that was then and this is now,
you mad Prometheus!
You've abandoned too many an oppressive house
without a thought of the season.

it was YOU who burnt vital bridges
seemingly for artistic reasons,
YOU who spent summers of opportunity
on perilous hunts for mind-altering beasts of lore.

Look at you,
you raggged high-brow,
where will you go...
now that all the world's a prison?

but I, our mechanic father's son,
the stolid university student, the melancholy grocery clerk,
I !! ,
(though traumatized by the speeds at which we've been hurled)
can help us now if you let me.

So take my hand, now,
in a spirit of fraternity
for we must make peace
if we're to make ends meet in this insane, modern world.