Bill Newby
Guy Talk
I’m just no good at guy talk –
the latest score, current standings,
or the hottest chick.
It feels as unnatural as writing left-handed
or conversing in Turkish.
In a bucket’s exchange,
I might be able to add a droplet
or a couple dribbles,
but never a stream.
My citizenship’s unchallenged.
My passport’s been repeatedly validated –
shaving daily,
siring a child,
throwing from my back foot,
squishing bugs and spiders,
turning my head and coughing on command.
But when locker room slang starts getting slung,
I feel like an immigrant.
Everyone else seems to have been at rehearsals,
studied their script and mastered their cues.
They know when to enter, pause, turn and talk,
while I’m still in the wings
wondering if I’m part of this scene.
from Sea Chests or a Carry-On © Bill Newby, 2018
Guy Talk
I’m just no good at guy talk –
the latest score, current standings,
or the hottest chick.
It feels as unnatural as writing left-handed
or conversing in Turkish.
In a bucket’s exchange,
I might be able to add a droplet
or a couple dribbles,
but never a stream.
My citizenship’s unchallenged.
My passport’s been repeatedly validated –
shaving daily,
siring a child,
throwing from my back foot,
squishing bugs and spiders,
turning my head and coughing on command.
But when locker room slang starts getting slung,
I feel like an immigrant.
Everyone else seems to have been at rehearsals,
studied their script and mastered their cues.
They know when to enter, pause, turn and talk,
while I’m still in the wings
wondering if I’m part of this scene.
from Sea Chests or a Carry-On © Bill Newby, 2018