Authors: David Lee
trying to find a way
to get back
into his
even now
even then
after all that
1
For his 74th birthday
Charles E. Carr, Sr. the Second
received fifteen dollars in the mail
with a handscribbled signature
inside a Judy's Motel notepad tear away
from your son Charles E. Carr, Junior III.
which burned an archetypal hole
in his proverbial pocket
until he went
to Hamilton Drug Store
found the Braun Electric Dry Razor
he'd heard about on radio and t. v.
said How much is it?
Gordon Hamilton said Seventeen seventy-five
Holy cow he said
I bought a Remington
out the Sears catalog
for six dollars
not that long ago
That would have been in 1936
said Gordon Hamilton
the cheapest model
I got one, too
and it wasn't worth a damn
these ones are good
made all the way over to Germany
I only got fifteen dollars
said Charles E. Carr, Sr.
Gordon Hamilton said
I'll think about it
come back and see me this afternoon
Charles E. Carr, Sr.
drove to Bill Edwards Hardware and Appliance
two blocks away
said Can you order me
a Braun Electric Dry Razor?
Bill Edwards got his book out
said Yes I can
it'll be sixteen dollars and fifty cents
including shipping
be here next Tuesday
Charles E. Carr, Sr. said
I'll think about it
get back to you this afternoon
drove back to Hamilton Drug
said Gordon, Ign get that razor
down to Bill Edwards
for under sixteen dollars
Gordon said Is that right?
Charles E. Carr, Sr. said Yep
though I'd of rather do bidness
with you being a neighbor
but I still only have fifteen
What if I sell it to you for fifteen fifty?
What if Bill Edwards went to fifteen?
I'll go fifteen and a quarter, no less
yougn get a quarter from your wife
I can?
Yep
How'd you know that?
What if I called and asked her?
You didn't do that
What if I did?
Can you gift wrap it?
It's a birthday present
2
On the morning after his 74th birthday
Charles E. Carr, Sr. the Second
broke out in a blood bright rash
head to neck
down his shoulders, arms
scratched himself raw and moaned
like a three tawn cat in heat
his wife
stuffed him in the Buick
drove to Dr. Tubbs
You got shingles
said the Dr.
Is it some pills I can take for it?
said Charles E. Carr, Sr.
Yessir, but it's going to take some time
said Dr. Tubbs
How much?
Dollars or time?
You're going to be taking penicillin
and administering calamine lotion
for at least a month
on all afflicted areas
including some you might not
know about yet
Month?
Yessir and I hope your missus
will come to enjoy your looks
because you're going to get downright scruffy
not being able to shave the whole time
3
Forty days forty nights
Charles E. Carr, Sr. the Second
lived in his Barcalounger
memorizing the schedule
of every program on Channel 7 and ll
Ding Dong School with Miss Francis
Captain Kangaroo soap operas all the days of his life
Queen for a Day Hopalong Roy Gene Durango Kid
Cisco and Lone Ranger Howdy Doody
Liberache and Tennessee Ernie Ford oh my both ways
Serenaders at 5 Bernie Howell on the Organ at 5:30
Douglas Edwards Edward R. Murrow See It Now
Jimmy Issac's State News and Weather from Lubbock
Father Knows Alfred Hitchcock Best Loretta Young
Ed Sullivan Loves Lucy Milton Berle
Sid Caesar Dizzy Dean Dragnet Gunsmoke
It's after eleven o'clock
will you turn that goddam thing down?
Yes dear I wished you wouldn't talk that way
I'm getting real tired of this I'm warning you
Yes dear
his scruff sprouting through
a peat moss mask of dried pink lotion
splotches and patches
in his lap every day, all night
his Braun Electric Dry Razor
which during every commercial
sunrise to midnight, forty consecutive days
in the wilderness of temptation
he would lift, hold before his face
thumb the switch
after checking that the cord was plugged in correctly
and listen to its perfectly engineered
immaculately designed
happy birthday from your son Charles E. Carr, Jr.
impeccable German whine
Daryl Glen Strickland
ten years into his current drunk
found his way to the monument
with a Jax beer in one hand
the remaining three of the six pack
papersacked in the other
looked up at the sculpture
the seeming spiral movement
the face changing expression
with the light flow, sift of breeze
passing through the welded body
dizzied him
until he dropped to a knee
where he remained for a quarter hour supine
staring upward into the obelisk
then rose and stumbled to the garbage barrel
tossed in his open can
placed the three live soldiers beside the drum
that night at the Dew Drop Inn
Bus Pennel mentioned
the Monument to the South Plains
Daryl Glen Strickland once again
wobbled until he had to leave the bar
go outside for fresh air
from then on when he came
to the Dew he drank only R.C. Cola
he returned again and again
to view Willy John's first masterpiece
sober
saying any time he thought of drinking
he pictured it in his mind
and dizziness poisoned the urge
said he was pretty sure
he overheard himself
praying to it a few times
until he finally gave it up
for good
the men's glee club at the Dew Drop
said Poor devil
he's cursed with the genius
caint get it out of his system
probley rurnt forever
they said
That's too bad
he was a good old boy
oncet upon a time
I remember when I was her age
one of our neighbors shot my puppy
Daddy said He will pay for that in the hereafter
down the road from our place
somebody had painted on a sign
R
EPENT
J
ESUS IS
C
OMING
S
OON
T
HE
E
ND IS NEAR
and I thought then
no it isn't
either it's already come and gone
and He went away, left for good
or it's too late
we are all sunsucked dry with meanness
where a bucket of water on cheatgrass
wouldn't pull enough suption
to let a stem call up spit
why would He want to come back to this?
that's what I wanted to know
what I had to say about all of it back then
when I was a child like her wondering
why somebody would do something like that
to my puppy dog, to me
to my whole world and everything
I'd learned to believe in
about it all
This little light of mine
âVacation Bible School song
You put me on that committee
first thing I'll do is call a vote to disband
Is it the committee or the people on it?
It's about equal, I'd guess
Is there anything today you detest more than educationists or committees?
Probably prayer before the meeting starts
You don't approve of praying
Not in public, nosir, but that's not the point
What is then?
Praying before an education meeting is akin to beseeching omnipotent
permission
in this instance to enact revisionist precepts of the moronic and mundane
a silly concept for which I have neither patience, respect nor time of day
I would rather proceed without same then ask forgiveness for idiotic
transgression
which is a Christian, even a Baptist Christian, obligation to remit
The people on that committee are too intellectually rigid to even
acknowledge that
I see what you mean
I accept that analysis maintaining reservations
It's not a big deal anyway, Billy, being more figurehead than reality
I doubt that committee even has the authority to disband itself
Full circle, full cliché
if nominated I will not run, if elected I will not serve
being unwilling to lead or follow in this meaningless matter
I move to cease discussion and approve my stance by acclamation
that movement being neither debatable nor amendable
I second that motion and vote yea
That, sir, being a highly commendable votive castureation worthy of one PBR
Which I accept with honor
Let us go then you and I
while the evening spreads against the sky
like alcoholics to the School Board Meeting
I, sir, am not an alcoholic
I am a votive casturationist drunk
The difference being?
Alcoholics go to meetings
I'm going to Adolph's
Perhaps you do know Jack Shit
and in that light
I, sir, will be your Sancho Panza
Let's shine, compadre
stars aglitter in mud puddles
let us go forth and shine
Oh Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold?
âParadise Lost
IV, 360
1
What are you doing!
Oh god
Oh shit
Jimmy Don who is that in my
Kim Pierce! What are you
I can explain Mrs Strachioner
No you can't
Oh god
Young lady you get out of my bedroom
Baby, I can
Don't you Baby me Get out of my bed
that piece of flesh you're with is a high school student, a minor
you should be really Really ashamed of yourself
you concubine chasing scum sucker child molesting snotty nosed Poland
China boar hog
I don't want to ever see you again
Really, I can
Don't you say another word, Miss Pierce
you get your clothes on
and yourself out of my house
Oh shit
And I can tell you one more thing, young lady
you are getting an unexcused absence
for this
Oh Hell! There goes my reputation
Baby, we can work this out
No we can't, we won't
get your clothes on
both of you get out of this house
If this gets around I'm dead
Jerry Tey will ask
for his class ring back, I know it
Get out of this house Now
Baby, you need to set down
and think this over
Jimmy Don, you have one minute
to be out of this house
I'm getting the shotgun
and I won't be particular
about where I'm aiming
Oh god
You have 54 seconds left
Oh shit, I think she means it
Oh god
50 seconds
I know where it is and it's loaded
I'm leaving, I'm leaving
You don't have any clothes on, Kimmie
You can go fuck yourself, Mister Strachioner
I'm not getting shot over this
44
Baby
42
I'm out
I'm out
just settle down
38
2
Elder Ezell when I was a little girl
back when you were only a Deacon
Mama always told me you were our friend
the one person I could come to and trust if I had a bad problem
to listen and help me through it
if they were gone or if I thought they couldn't help
besides going to the preacher
I don't know Brother Ronnie Parker
that well yet he's too new to the church
I wouldn't feel comfortable
going to him even if he is our Minister
will you hear me as my Elder and my friend
and offer any advice you have on what to do next?
Your mama was Maypearl Fleming wasn't she?
married to Floyd Fleming before he died
when? back in '54 I think?
wasn't it a heart attackt back then?
Yes sir
You're Lucy Beth Strachioner now aren't you?
married to Jimmy Don Strachioner who works
up to Brown Brothers as a oiler, don't he?