Standing Room Only

So the other day I found out that singer, Julien Baker would be in concert at Tipitina's in New Orleans on May 1st. Tickets only $35! I called them and asked what the seating at the concert was like and the man told me it was basically general admission/standing room only. I should have known better than to get my hopes up. I know I can't stand more than a few minutes at a time. At 63 there's arthritis, bad knees and back, etc etc. It really sucks to be old and liking young kids music as much as I do. I love Julien Baker and would have loved to see her singing in person. So I'm depressed now and just feel like crawling back into bed. But as I do I wrote a poem about it.

__________________

Here I am again

sitting in the laptop's

glow

knowing all the 1000

of things I know

lonely and cold

trying to file away

regrets and if onlys

but I can't get past

the fact I'm old.

--

Today I heard that

Julien Baker would be

in New Orleans.

I immediately

remembered nights

singling my lungs

out to Funeral Pyre

hour after hour

understanding

inside the music

she sang with so

much desire.

--

"Standing room only"

the man on the phone said

I let out a sigh that hurt

my head. At my age I can't

stand that long, hardly

able to stand for one song

let alone a whole concert

worth.

--

I wanted to cry but what

would be the use, I can't

change the fact I'm old

there's no pill, potion

or juice

that will make me be

able to stand that long

oh how I wish I were

that strong.

--

So I listen to Julien

on YouTube and I close

my eyes, imagine being

their watching her sing

thinking back

on my younger

times.

--

I was a handful back then,

a poet and a dyke, I ruled my

roost and if others didn't

like me they could take

a hike.

--

I had energy to stand, run

and play all night.

I had none of these

maladies, arthritis,

bad knees or any type of

physical plight.

--

So I'll sit here

alone in my room as

the band plays on

I'll miss you Julien

enjoy being young

as my days are

almost done.

________________

Thanks for reading! - Sam