almost okay

Excerpt from an interview with the recently resurrected Prof. Dirk Beat...

Marty Sherman: So how was your first week back on earth?

Prof. Dirk Beat: It was fan-damn-tastic! I wrote more last week just autographing books than I had the last two years I was alive. The first time, I mean. You don't mind if I help myself to another drink do you?

MS: No, go right ahead.

PDB: And by the way, thanks again for letting me crash here. I've been so busy I haven't even had a chance to look for a place.

MS: Not a problem. Have you been surprised at all by the people you meet?

PDB: I love the people! For the first time in my lives I love people! It must have something to do with having seen what Heaven is like. Nobody annoys me anymore!

MS: Not even your ex-wife?

PDB: Hmm...You make a good point, but nah... She can't help it if she's a bitch. And I wish her all the luck in the world finding some rotten bastard that will put up with all of her bullshit. Sincerely I do. Honest.

MS: How about those book sales?

PDB: Can you believe they've sold out another printing, man? A lot of people at the signings told me they watched me on Conan last Tuesday and I was so funny they had to come get the book. I told them 'Hey, don't expect the book to be funny. It's poetry, man!'

MS: Before I forget, I'm sorry about all the money trouble. You know, not being able to get any because you're legally dead and the book rights are all in my name.

PDB: Don't sweat it. It's not your fault I'm dead. I have to take full credit for that one.

MS: Anything on the schedule, appearance-wise?

PDB: There's a few things cooking. I just got a new agent and she's really going to be keeping me busy. But in the meantime, I've scheduled a little Happy Hour meeting as of... oh... right now... with a couple of my favorite girls over at Hot Tamales. Care to join me?

MS: I have some stuff to wrap up but I can meet you over there in an hour or two.

PDB: My man! Hey, I'll need you to lay some dough on me before I go, though. I'm broke again.

MS: Will two-hundred work?

PDB: Better make it five. Mystery really likes her Moet.


Titled: beltiT

The wind predicts love!
The sun awake & laughing now
The earth a bowling ball of blood & mud
Skitters down the alley of the gods
Avoiding the gutter & last-second hooking
Right into that sweet sweet pocket...Wham!

STRIKE!

Fifty years later that same ball of mud wobbles a bit
As the wind howls & the sun scorches the sand
It reels from gutter to gutter before lightly
Striking the head pin a glancing blow & dying
Dead as a flattened skunk in the middle of the road

The new wind predicts the end!

The new wind predicts a new beginning!

The new wind blows a Yardbird song
It blows a Coltrane sonnet
A whispered Miles prayer

This wind blows a Monk sermon
It blows a symphony d'Ellington
A heartbroken Billie Holiday sigh

Before finally blowing a Satchmo belly laugh

Then again it predicts love!
The sun awake & laughing once more
The earth a bowling ball of blood & mud
Skitters down the alley of the gods
Avoiding the gutter & last-second hooking
Right into that sweet sweet pocket...Wham!

STRIKE!

-Prof. Dirk Beat