time on your hands

time on your hands







                       I



       John set down the pot of hot soup

       in front of the bum the fly

       floating on the surface



       hi my name is John

       i do social research

       what is your name

       i'll call you george

       you are george number four



       John wrote in his notebook

       i said hi my name is John...

       and dated friday september 13 1996



       day after day John brought

       a fresh pot of soup with a fresh fly



       after each session he emptied

       the untouched pot into the gutter

       and left with

       see you tomorrow george



       the bum's gaze

       gave meaning

       to the word

       horizon

       in the context of a downtown sidewalk





                        II



       on the third day

       John came with a stone

       tucked into his pocket



       after a practice session alone

       John was able to get the stone from the pocket

       swiftly



       on the fifth day

       John replaced the stone with a pistol



       otherwise his routine didn't change

       the pot the fly his monologue





                        III



       on september 24 the bum has uttered

       his first word

       please...



       John came still closer to the other man

       and bent the man continued

       sir please take your pot and leave

       why george

       my name is not george

       this tuesday is my weekend



       the bum's head slumped resting on his sternum

       his closed eyes

       gave a new

       meaning

       to the word

       horizon





   John entered into his notebook

   tuesday september 24 1996

   george4 said

   this tuesday is my weekend





END



    Wlodzimierz Holsztynski ©

           1996-11-09