NEEDLING

MEGALO TAKES A REST

In his head.

There, inside
instead of outside
there, out there
not of this world.

Not the world where
he isn't
nearly as great
as he is
in his head.

The world outside
of his head.

He sits
on a park bench.

He invents stories
in first person
there, inside
and makes himself cry
there on his park bench
looking at nothing
but himself.

How great he is
there
inside his head

A Hero.


MEGALO TAKES A WALK

He is a large man
he sweats a lot
he loves to tell stories
at dinner time
and make whoever is listening
laugh.

He specially likes it
when others are awed
by his crazy tales.

He is a lonely man
he doesn't have a job
or a girlfriend
and he eats well
only when he is a guest
at another's table.

His friends invite him
often, knowing of his financial
situation, and on those
evenings, several times a week
he shines with dirty stories
funny ones, self-denigration
tales of self-hatred
and cynical misanthropy.

He has an opinion on everything.

In the daytime
he likes to sit on a park bench
in the shadow of a tree
whatever kind
he doesn't mind
as long as the shadow is cool
where his sweat bothers him less.

He likes to walk too
down a path
where he doesn't have to look
where he's going
and he can partake
in his favorite activity
to forget he hasn't a penny
to eat on
or buy a bottle of wine on
and he imagines himself
a Texas oil tycoon.

So, if you happen
to be walking in a park
and you cross a large man
with shinny brown shoes
looking spiffy
dressed in loose flanels and pasleys
(worn a little if you look close enough)
and you happen to notice
this man is crying to himself
his eyes dazed
his look far away off in Marfa
or Irkusk
then just keep walking
act as if you hadn't seen him.

Whatever you do
don't disturb him!
He is getting real close
to a climax you or me
cannot even come close
to imagine...
lover, saint, martyr...

Just keep walking.

(Paris, France, 2003)