BALLAD OF THE STATUS QUO

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<div> <I><B>I TOLD MY WIFE IN BED;</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>"WHAT ON EARTH WAS AILING YOU</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>THAT BROUGHT ABOUT YOUR DREAD"?</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>SHE WISHED TO KNOW ABOUT MY WOE,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>AND THIS IS WHAT I SAID:</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>* * *</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>"I'</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>LL TELL YOU DEAR WHAT IS MY FEAR,</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>MY BODY'S RACKED WITH PAIN,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>MY ARM TO THUMB IS DEADLY NUMB..</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>FOR ON THEM I HAVE LAIN,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>AND CANNOT SEEM TO LOCATE THEM...</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>TEN MINUTES NOW IN VAIN!</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>A</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>ND MY FEET ARE SORELY ACHING</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>FROM STUMPING TOES LAST NIGHT...</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>ON CHAIR LEGS IN THE DARKNESS...</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>THAT WERE HIDDEN OUT OF SIGHT;</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>AND THE REST OF NIGHT WAS HOPELESS,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>FROM ALL THAT PAIN TO FIGHT.</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>* * *</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>A</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>ND OF COURSE WHEN THAT OCCURRED,</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>I WOKE YOU UP MY SPOUSE,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>WITH SUDDEN SCREAMS AND SHOUTING</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>THAT SHOOK THE ENTIRE HOUSE;</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>a pain with power and burning</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>A "FLAME" I COULD NOT DOUSE.</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>N</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>OW MY OLD STIFF NECK IS HURTING...</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>OF PILLOWS STACKED TOO HIGH,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>JUST LIKE THE TIMES I WORE... A </B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>S</B></I></FONT><I><B>UNDAY SUIT AN TIE,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>AND THESE CRINKS THAT DON'T LEAVE EASY,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>MAKES A GROWN MAN WANT TO CRY!</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>* * *</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>A</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>ND WATCHING LATE-NIGHT MOVIES..</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>MADE MY EYES SO SORE AND RED,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>ADDING SORROW TO THE TORMENT OF</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>MY TIRED AND ACHING HEAD;</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>AND THIS MORNING LOOKS NO BRIGHTER </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>AS I DREAD IT HERE IN BED.</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>* * *</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>N</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>OW MY KNEES ARE SWOLLEN KNOBBY...</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>LIKE THAT ON OAKS OR PINE,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>BROUGHT ON BY ARTHRITIS </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>AND TOLLED BY LENGHT OF TIME, </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>AND ALL THEIR USE IS ADDING </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>TO THE MISERIES I FIND!</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>M</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>Y LEGS ARE ALSO SCRAWNEY </B></I></FONT></div> <div> <I><B>JUST LIKE THAT OLD OAK TREE,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>CROOKED AND BOWED AND PIGEON TOED...</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>LIKE ANY OLD LEGS CAN BE;</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>BUT I'LL COPE WITH ENTIRE HOPE</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>WITH ALL THIS MISERY.</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>* * *</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>T</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>OO, MY BACK IS BENT WITH AGING..</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>WITH YEARS OF TAKING TOLL,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>AND I DARE NOT DO NO LIFTING,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>NOT EVEN A FISHING POLE!</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>A</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>ND UP AND DOWN MOST OF THE NIGHT,</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>"I THINK I'VE CAUGHT A COLD!</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>AND ALL THE PILLS AND CAPSULES</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>I TAKE FOR EVERYTHING,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>SHOULD KEEP THIS BODY GOING</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>WITH SOME RELIEF TO BRING,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>BUT I SUSPECT AS OFTEN,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>THERE'LL COMES ANOTHER STING.</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>* * *</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>B</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>UT YOU ASKED WHAT'S WRONG, MY DEAR,</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>AND THIS I NOW RELATE:</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>ALL THE THINGS I'VE TOLD TO YOU </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>ARE JUST SOME FACTS OF FATE;</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>BUT OUTSIDE ALL I'VE SPOKEN HERE,</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>I FEEL ABSOLUTELY GREAT!!! "</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>* * *</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>W</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>ILLIAM </B></I></FONT><I><B>E</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>. </B></I></FONT><I><B>H</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>ARDISON (C)</B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="rags_and_riches.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RAGS AND RICHES"><I><B>NEXT POEM</B></I></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>