Still Busy Feeling Blue

It would have been his birthday
Yesterday
My friend, Peter
We were supposed to be a thing
Once upon a time
But it never came to pass
It just didn't
That didn't make me any less sorrowful
Of his natal anniversary
When I was perpetually reminded
Because no one has taken down
His profile
Since he was murdered
A few months ago
Assaulted in the laundry room
Of his apartment building
And left for dead
After his screams
Heard by the other tenants
Went unanswered
I don't know if they ever caught
The suspected son of a bitch
Who could do such a thing
To another human being
Let alone someone I knew by name
But it reminded me once more
Unnecessarily
In these times of sanctimonious
Self-appointed sainthood
No matter what is said
The horrible truth is
Not all lives matter
To everyone

copyright 2020 by Steve Keil

Preaching Under A Sweaty Hat

This is a new poem that I wrote on July 9, 2020. 

After the free cigars were

Passed out

Along with some of the guests

Each wedding attended

In the days of my youth

When I was far from being a man

Had a certain inevitable flow

Regardless of whether 

I approved of the union or not

At some point at the reception

I would begin to pester the band

If there was one

To allow me the luxury

Of singing an inebriated number

For the usually happy couple

There was rarely any problem with that

It was one less terrible popular song

For them to fully participate in

And if anything

I allowed them the opportunity

To seem a lot better

Once I slurred my way through

Whatever tune was available

I seem to remember a lot of

Huey Lewis to choose from

Bur don't quote me on that

No matter how awful I was

I would get applause the crowd

After all, I was one of their own

Despite being

Totally unprofessional

Just as I would make my style

In the years to come

Once I started getting paid

For doing the same

copyright 2020 by Steve Keil

New Ways With Gin and Sour Defeat

This is the title poem from my most recent collection that was published in 2018 and is available at amazon.com

Sequestered to the back
Of the bar

Where the wallflowers

And the uninvited
Wild things are

Watching the crowd with

My hello kettle

Running a mutual commentary

For our own amusement

Entertaining ourselves as usual

While everyone else

Is entranced by

What's happening on stage

Laughing at the absurdity

Of it all

Including ourselves

Knowing that this is

Our version of

A fine romance

The most we'll ever be

Together

Which is still more 

Than can be said

For the zombie apocalypse

With necks bent downward

That surround us