Ray

XIV

AFTER the trial, this man comes up to me. I’m so full of trouble I don’t even recognize him. Holy God, it’s one of those students I taught in that American Civ class. He wants me to read his poem.

Certain Feelings

I have certain feelings about this room

I have certain feelings about doom

I have certain feelings about trees and gnats

I have certain feelings about this and that

I have certain feelings about firearms

I have certain feelings about the girls and the guests

I have certain feelings about firearms

I have certain burglar alarms

I have certain strains of Mozart in my soul

Certain helplessness I cannot control

Though I guess when all is said and done

I have certain feelings

They always say Southerners can write. So I slugged this skinny lad. I laid him down the steps. They took this on the local TV, and I watched it with Westy. I was in my white suit and I duked away this harmless poet. He tumbled down a lot of steps and his family is saying they’ll sue.

No matter. I’m in Westy again. The thing seemed to have turned her on. Not the violence, but the lonely trouble. Cornelia Wallace called me up about publishing her novel. Fame on the TV got me back to Westy.

She covers me with kisses. Tears running down. Ray heaving, wife receiving. Hear me, poets. I have certain feelings.