Beer Neck Flower 

Never knew why the ribbon
Pabst Blue Ribbon
that is

Pretty ordinary brew
it was

But
a good guy it stayed
the Pabst
that is

After life of the sudsy
held its water for a lady
and oh
what a lady

Don't know why
really
any fool knows a
silk flower isn't in need of water
but
water changed each day it got
that flower
my Sophie

Maybe it was  a way
to defy the artificial life
Manhattan can do that to you
remember
I'm just a made-up character
as well
in this book
that is

Echosis has given me quite a ride

But I digress

So

Theo here
3rd story guy
brownstone rear
nice tree out the window
stationed strategically between
my 3rd floor
and
the 3rd floor
across the way
hidin' draped laundry
on jerry-rigged clothesline
always full

Oh

And on the sill
my beer bottle flower
takin' in the sun
which makes it forget
that stuff  'cross the way
yellin'
Elvis records
reruns of Kukla, Fran, and Ollie
or good old fashioned
man/woman fights

Water changed every day
even a pinch of soda for treats
old habits for the livin' never die
there was a time
you know

You loved my dumpin' the old
fillin' with the new
usually at night and...

Grinnin'?

Sure I'm grinnin'

It was a sight
never late they were
always ready
flip the switch
that closet for a kitchen
its cracked marble counter
squigglies comin' alive
late show beginnin's

Damn they're fast
but they know
I know
they peek
they don't really hide
‘cause they know
they still know
can't bring myself
to kill'm
gotta die like all of us
naturally

Sometimes
thought
Why am I boxin' them up
you know
after their feet pokin' straight up
‘cept
now I know why
keepin' them
that is

Little fuckers can get noisy
when I sleep
need my sleep
scratchy little paws
even on old marble counter
especially loud on packaged food

Home of the brave
those little critters a-scurry
friends they were
dependable they were
waiting
always ready
never disappointing
'til they died

Damn

There I go again
this is about Sophie
not me
not my other friends

That's the lovely lady there
my blue ribbon Pabst lady
getting' along in years
but oh
decked out in silk green leaves
velvet red petals
always smiling
she's mine
all mine

But today

Today she's being
laid to rest
this Fair Lady pride of mine
the silk finally tattered with age
no amount of
fresh water
thimbles of soda
sunshine or
lovin' care
can make it forever

You know that
don't you

So

No complaints

Pabst
you did well
not breaking
so often slippin' from my fingers
as water ran

Six years

Lots of fillin's
lots of mem'ries
a long time
in silk flower age
that is

So...

Today Sophie
you take a final glance
from up high here
the sun through the tree
final smile at old swivel hips
echoin' 'cross the way
even the solitary sparrow
perched on its favorite branch
head atilt
seems to know
"crazy fuck"
it must think of me
all those years
me sittin' on the sill
beside my silk lady
that is

But hey
this is New York
get over it

Now

Stop with the nerves a'ready
just pick up Pabst
gently cradle Sophie's waverin' stem
walk carefully the creakin' stairs
down to the garden
her garden
the landlady's
that is

We gotta sit down there a few minutes
let Sophie see close up the cupid statue
she gazed at from that 3rd story sill for so long

So far down there it was

So other world

Jesus, Theo
get a grip
we've talked this over
she came from another world
brought some love
even had me thinkin' everlastin'
this silk thing's impressive
you know

So

There...

We'll sit a few

Hey
how would you like some of
Cupid's water?

So he's peeing
so what
fresh from the ground
better than the rusty stuff upstairs

See

Nice eh

Just sit
pleasant day
hot
but nice
maybe rain tonight

Wow

This'll be your first drench
I mean
this feet-in-the-ground thing
over there
see the hole
just a few spoonfuls it took
keep your bottom warm in winter

Grin
chuckle
laugh

Not at you Sophie
just thinkin'
you'll be the only flower in bloom this winter
freak her out
the landlady
that is

Okay
time to say goodbye
or
really
just so long for now

Liftin' you from the bottle
not easy
you know
but...

There
in the ground
even got some fertilizer
few of my boxed friends from the sink
they wanted to stay worth somethin'
you know
just a few
but they'll maybe
bring you back some strength
you ‘re kinda...
well
bendy now
your posture isn't what it used to be kid
but don't feel bad
mine's givin' out too

There
put a little here
a little there
not bad for an old tap water guy

Oh

Damn

Gotta hurry
I'll miss my bus

Goin' uptown Sophie
check out the park
see how your old kin are doing
you know
the other kind of beauties

You're lucky though
you're still pretty
and transplants are the thing now
so...

You'll get used to it
think of it as a new lease on life

Better than your ancestors stuck in those little apothecary bottles
Tavern on the Green
or
no Tavern on the Green
they won't ever last this long

Whoa

Almost forgot
this dried fern stuff
keep ya warm on a cool night
just pack it around...

There

Done

All done

Oh, c'mon Theo
my God
Sophie doesn't need your dumb tears now

Messin' up your petals
amazing really
you've still got it Sophie
bloomin' red as red they ever were to me
you know
your smiles

Well...

Everythin'll mend
you wait
you'll see

There
wiped your petals dry
just like new

Gotta go now Sophie
I'll visit tomorrow
you take care
sleep tight
don't let the bed bugs bite
or
my little friends

Love ya

Uh uh

I love you more

I really do