Home » Poems » Chris Green » Vagabond Brothers In Plaid Patchwork Socks

Vagabond Brothers In Plaid Patchwork Socks

Vagabond brothers in plaid patchwork socks
Crossing the street between stripes painted yellow
Stretching the avenue half past the hour
Dodging the drunk, he’s a staggering fellow

Grabbing a smoke from the stack on the corner
Begging a match that just isn’t the same
Identical twins from a different mother
Thinking the postman holds most of the blame

Belting a chorus while changing their trousers
Pressed at the seam near the fine zigzag stitch
Hiding the spot that is worn in the middle
Caused by aggressively scratching an itch 

Checking the fridge just to find it quite empty
Not even leftovers left over there
Hearing their stomachs now growling profusely
Hoping that none on the sidewalk would stare

Reaching for handles of brass alabaster
Gathering things at a grocery store
Paying in cash with a currency foreign
Offering nickels, they don’t have much more

Pork chops on Sunday and sweet apple cider
Pushing their cart over ten city blocks
Still they are known for their colorful fashions
Vagabond brothers in plaid patchwork socks


Written for the Zany contest
Sponsored by Frank Herrera

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Charmaine Chircop

Date: 12/1/2016 1:33:00 PM

Entertaining post :)

Chris Green
Date: 12/1/2016 1:54:00 PM

Thank you Charmaine

Just James

Date: 11/30/2016 11:47:00 PM

Brotherhood of vagrants...very touching image. Well written!

Chris Green
Date: 12/1/2016 10:48:00 AM

Thanks so much James.

White Wolf

Date: 11/30/2016 9:24:00 PM

I love this, Chris. The imagery! The humour! 7/7

Chris Green
Date: 12/1/2016 10:47:00 AM

Glad you liked this one Rick. Just letting my mind (what is left of it) go a little of center for a while. :)

Janice Canerdy

Date: 11/30/2016 8:50:00 PM

A7 for this very creative, appealing piece, Chris! Janice

Chris Green
Date: 12/1/2016 10:46:00 AM

Thanks so much Janice. I am thrilled you enjoyed my nonsense. :)

Eve Roper

Date: 11/30/2016 4:44:00 PM

Hahaha....:) poor postman always gets the blame....:) why do men always itch? I hope he watched his hands :) this is great a 10+ and a fav. Hugs Eve

Chris Green
Date: 11/30/2016 5:03:00 PM

From what I understand, their hands itched as well, hmmmm. :) Thanks so much Eve, you comments really made me smile. As far as the postman, I don't know, all I do know is every time I got in trouble with my mom, my dad would say, "Don't look at me, the mailman is your father". :)

Doug Vinson

Date: 11/30/2016 4:23:00 PM

Lyrical and hilarious, Chris!

Chris Green
Date: 11/30/2016 5:04:00 PM

Thanks so much Doug and to think, I was going to scratch that stanza altogether. :)

Doug Vinson
Date: 11/30/2016 4:48:00 PM

With a tip of the hat to Eve, above: // "Belting a chorus while changing their trousers// Pressed at the seam near the fine zigzag stitch// Hiding the spot that is worn in the middle// Caused by aggressively scratching an itch//" Hahahahahahahaaa! Genius.