Evening Conversations...Small Town U.S.A. Poem by David Whalen

Barbershops, beauty shops, front porches, fireplaces and bars


Like ol’ men and women
Jabbering away
Arguing like ol’ friends do
Tryin’ to absorb other’s happiness
Tryin’ to give away
A little of their sadness too…

Remnants of the glow
Of summer sunburns
Meet winter’s white
on wrinkled necks
Some enjoying the Fall flush
Of immaterial nature
Others await the arrival
Of social security checks

Some live close to joy
Others… so far away
Some still believing in foolish miracles..
Others having cast hope away

Some enjoying
the company of others
Others savor the flavor
of being alone…
It’s come the sad, withered end
Of a cool, cloudy day
Like melancholy goodbyes
Whispered into a cold plastic phone

Conversations clot and congeal
In the roseate pink
And fiery farewell
Of the dusk

And then murmur away
In a heady mixture…
Of good natured goodnights
Seasoned with flowery musk

Chairs scrape the floors
Pushed back for the night
Latches click crisply
on doors shutting tight

Voices distant, as if muffled in cotton
Sleep shrouded mumbles of goodnight
Travails and triumphs of today forgotten
Conversation ceases…as does the light