Jukebox Gigolo
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Author's Notes: This particular poem, entitled: "Jukebox Gigolo" is one that I've wanted to write for a while. The character of this poem, "Zack Adams," is a fictional character of my invention. He is somewhat of a composite of a number of personality types I've observed over the years in various bar-room settings during my life experience. Zack, in effect, in my mind's eye is that old style country playboy type who personifies someone way past his prime, deeply and hopelessly alcoholic, and day-by-day and night-by-night giving into the ravages tormenting his mind, body, and soul -- and his very existence as his drinks and smokes himself slowly and methodically to death. Old Zack's earthly punishment, as this type of person, is to continue doing the negative things he's doing toward slowly killing himself, while continuing to be the "joke of the town" and fading away toward a horrible and hopeless oblivion in the end. This is not a pleasant picture, of course, since it's fictionally representative of real-life situations that some people (men and women) find themselves in too late due to life style choices and chronic substance abuse. And so, I wanted to share this deeper view with you, the reader, so you get an understanding of the real message behind this certain character from my artistic perspective. (Gary Bateman, October 7, 2014) (Rhymed Quatrain)
Categories: abuse, addiction, allegory, emotions, hurt, life, lust.
Old Zack Adams sits a slouch’n so sloppy drunk on a bar-room stool,
Wear’n his cheap-threaded cowboy suit and a stained satin shirt.
All the while a peek’n and a leer’n at women like an old poor fool,
But think’n man tonight—Oh Boy, I’m really gonna hit the pay dirt!
Old Zack in this small Texas town is reputed to be quite a lecherous hoot,
As he raucously and recklessly rolls old worn quarters into the slot
Of the old bar-room Wurlitzer while snicker’n and smil’n to boot,
And plays his tearful and twangy jerk-water music while smil’n a lot!
Old Zack is this town’s “Jukebox Gigolo,” a real lover boy—Oh Boy!
He wears his patched cowboy hat and his scuffed silver-studded boots,
Meant to impress young girls and bar-fly floozies who have the Joy!
Of being with this bewildering, withered, weathered man and his boots.
Old Zack has a fad’n recollection of events and a silver mane of hair,
With a cigarette in his hand and cuss’n like a nasty little stable boy,
He downs whiskey shots and tequila seconds like no tomorrow on a dare,
While chas’n whiskey glass ice cubes and the tequila worm—being so coy.
Old Zack while a swigg’n down his whiskey mucho fast and direct,
He has now that blind courage to fight or to love—whichever is first,
While the old Wurlitzer resonates a rueful hick song for a teary effect,
But Old Zack can’t move now for this song has him sobb’n the very worst.
Old Zack with his nicotine-whiskey breath and his pockmarked face,
Personifies the image of an ideal loser of a man—with problems all,
While fight’n, scream’n, and punch’n others to gain some precious space,
He’s a showcas’n his reservoir of manly prowess—with problems all.
Old Zack was young once and not so wild, withered, weathered like now,
And he thought he was a really smart dude—all right moves and all,
But was really a man act’n far above his funny fake smart brow,
And now a cry’n on his bar-room stool and act’n like a fool before a fall.
Old Zack Adams—alcoholic as he truly is and sly and slick as a Texas fox,
Is not really so good with his women friends nowadays—for his real talent
Is in roll’n those old worn quarters pieces one-by-one into the old Jukebox,
Sing’n—“I’m the Jukebox Gigolo”—“a Drunk and a Delight,” that’s real talent!
Gary Bateman, Copyright © All Rights Reserved (October 7, 2014)
(Rhymed Quatrain)
Copyright © Gary Bateman | Year Posted 2014
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