El Dorado

We have a friend in common, the retired sophomore.   

His concern: that I shall get it like that,   

in the right and righter of a green bush   

chomping on future considerations. In the ghostly   

dreams of others it appears I am all right,   

and even going on tomorrow there is much   

to be said on all these matters, “issues,” like   

“No rest for the weary.” (And yet—why not?)   

Feeling under orders is a way of showing up,   

but stepping on Earth—she’s not going to.   

Ten shades of pleasing himself brings us to tomorrow   

evening and will be back for more. I disagree   

with you completely but couldn’t be prouder   

and fonder of you. So drink up. Feel good for two.   

I do it in a lot of places. Subfusc El Dorado   

is only one that I know something about.   

Others are recently lost cities   

where we used to live—they keep the names   

we knew, sometimes. I do it in a lot of places.   

Brash brats offer laughing advice,   

as though anything I cared about could be difficult   

or complicated now. That’s the rub. Gusts of up   

to forty-five miles an hour will be dropping in later   

on tonight. No reason not to. So point at the luck   

we know about. Living is a meatloaf sandwich.   

I had a good time up there.