Can You Make It Rain? Poem by Kyle Schlicher

You tell me about your hard earned success,
the perks that go along with it.

The new convertible
with the fantastic sound system.

You show me the expensive wrist watch
complete with quite a few diamonds.

I bet, now you are never late
for a midnight clandestine meeting,
are you?

Oh, yes, I did notice
the 400 dollar pair of shoes
you wear on the same ordinary feet
that once wore cheap earth shoes
like the rest of your once
used to be friends.

You've changed and I suppose
money is the main reason.

You seem to think material success
makes you a better person than
you were a year or so ago.

You tell me that there is nothing,
absolutely nothing,
that you cannot do
if you set your mind to it.

I have no doubt this is true.

I have always known you to be a doer,
a risk taker of the first degree,
a pusher of the finest mood enhancers
available to the general public.

This is why I am telling you
that this period of dry, arid weather
is reeking havoc on my yard and plants.

You know,
I have never asked you for much,
but, please,
just this one time,
this one time just for me,

can you make it rain?

(8-03-1979)