For Richard

[Guest guest]

the bluebird

 

there's a bluebird in my heart that

wants to get out

but I'm too tough for him,

I say, stay in there, I'm not going

to let anybody see

you.

 

there's a bluebird in my heart that

wants to get out

but I pour whiskey on him and inhale

cigarette smoke

and the whores and the bartenders

and the grocery clerks

never know that

he's

in there.

 

there's a bluebird in my heart that

wants to get out

but I'm too tough for him,

I say, stay down, do you want to mess

me up?

you want to screw up the

works?

you want to blow my book sales in

Europe?

 

there's a bluebird in my heart that

wants to get out

but I'm too clever, I only let him out

at night sometimes

when everyone's asleep

I say, I know that you're there,

so don't be

sad.

 

then I put him back

but he's singing a little

in there, I haven't quite let him

die

and we sleep together like

that

with our

secret pact

and it's nice enough to

make a man

weep, but I don't weep, do

you?

 

by Charles Bukowski.