MIDDLE CLASS MOODS<\/u><\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Copyright 1996, held by Timothy Herrick<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Election day jeopardy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No predicting the whims of<\/p>\n\n\n\n my heart or the direction<\/p>\n\n\n\n of the electorate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Reagan for so long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Clinton was fleeting<\/p>\n\n\n\n but who was really feeling<\/p>\n\n\n\n like Nixon instead of JFK?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Piano tinkers with the freshness of the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A white curtain sways with the breeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A candle stick, long and red<\/p>\n\n\n\n on the table, unlit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sunset in the wine glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A mutual sip, averted glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We agree to whisper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another night, no smoked turkey<\/p>\n\n\n\n or dried tomatoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vodka mouth ordered<\/p>\n\n\n\n honey on the flesh and kisses to drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sweat for the main course<\/p>\n\n\n\n raw meat for desert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A lot of cigarettes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n music with saxophones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Screaming, moaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don’t care about me<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’ll do anything you say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I want to be the penis<\/p>\n\n\n\n piercing the altar<\/p>\n\n\n\n of her propriety and logic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A messiah of desire,<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’ll alleviate the anguish<\/p>\n\n\n\n her father bestowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Call me sugar, let me<\/p>\n\n\n\n grant childhood wishes<\/p>\n\n\n\n and adulthood urgencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She laughs at my bachelor leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She has her own shining armor<\/p>\n\n\n\n and no use for a confessional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She talks about the things<\/p>\n\n\n\n we own, the property that will<\/p>\n\n\n\n ensure our<\/p>\n\n\n\n children’s safety<\/p>\n\n\n\n and restore civilization<\/p>\n\n\n\n to the future world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s like dancing in the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We waltz into a ballroom,<\/p>\n\n\n\n strut into a honky tonk,<\/p>\n\n\n\n refuse to sit in a cabaret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n End up in a place called Joe’s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other patrons<\/p>\n\n\n\n as silent as the baseball players<\/p>\n\n\n\n hanging on the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All we can pay for is American beer<\/p>\n\n\n\n and fifteen songs on the Jukebox:<\/p>\n\n\n\n FM hits we first heard<\/p>\n\n\n\n ten years ago, driving home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We’re victims of whatever,<\/p>\n\n\n\n including: the shape of the moon,<\/p>\n\n\n\n arrangement of the planets<\/p>\n\n\n\n the amount of prayers we meant to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Caress the crystals in our pockets<\/p>\n\n\n\n measure the weather against our pores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Discuss the kind of day<\/p>\n\n\n\n we each had at work<\/p>\n\n\n\n and the specific memory<\/p>\n\n\n\n invoked in the dreams<\/p>\n\n\n\n we had the night before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes we embrace<\/p>\n\n\n\n the achievement of individuality<\/p>\n\n\n\n put the glory of faith<\/p>\n\n\n\n behind the Free Market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people are rich,<\/p>\n\n\n\n more people are poor,<\/p>\n\n\n\n but look at the cities<\/p>\n\n\n\n how bright the lights<\/p>\n\n\n\n before implosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who needs an infrastructure?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lower taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can afford<\/p>\n\n\n\n a few pretty toys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compassion is not a consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The system secures survival,<\/p>\n\n\n\n just not for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But bills always appear in the mail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We relate to the working class,<\/p>\n\n\n\n resent the wealthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rather read a book<\/p>\n\n\n\n than watch Television.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’re wrong; they’re right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Redistribute resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let the government control everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just stop the war<\/p>\n\n\n\n and give us food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respect the Constitution<\/p>\n\n\n\n but burn the flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God determines the effect<\/p>\n\n\n\n history has on our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interpretations are based<\/p>\n\n\n\n on education,<\/p>\n\n\n\n the experience of<\/p>\n\n\n\n childhood and the randomness<\/p>\n\n\n\n of emotion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Every cause<\/p>\n\n\n\n seeks a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Above the rain, sunshine bleeds<\/p>\n\n\n\n into the sky:<\/p>\n\n\n\n oblivious\u2014totally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cool head, rigid finger<\/p>\n\n\n\n seeing but not touching<\/p>\n\n\n\n the lever,<\/p>\n\n\n\n trying to remember<\/p>\n\n\n\n what media information seemed truthful<\/p>\n\n\n\n and the color of the candidate’s eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Republican or Democrat?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who had better commercials?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Am I happy in love?<\/p>\n\n\n\n How is that meal digesting?<\/p>\n