As a kid I played the indian whisper
the italian grunt
the polish tickle
the lone star waltz
 

thus I was
so deeply, and readily,
in my mind, confused.
 

Later--I ran some numbers
for a man named jake.
We never played the minor seconds;
we never failed counting the odds.
We were not brave.
He kept his cash in a chinese jar
and bathed over and over!
 

Inevitable then, the falling off,
the falling out.
Jake and me--
a lasting memory.