April 21, 2017

JOLENE

JOLENE

The year Jolene hit the airwaves
Gene was living high on the hog of love,
laughing into his two palms,
convinced he was no fool, but a clever
thief who stole Fran away from her husband.

In their clandestine car rides,
they sang along with Dolly’s, “Jolene, Jolene,”
all the while singing in parody:
“Oh Gene, Oh Gene, I’m begging
of you please don’t take my Fran.
Don’t take her just because you can.”

Sometimes treasures are empty chests
and what appears a triumph in 1973
down-slides to defeat in '88.
Fran played the game again with someone else.


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1 comment:

  1. I love this Sal your poetry tells a definite story and I like the role reversal or what Gene thought was a role reversal. "Sometimes treasures are empty chests" beautiful line, I guess Gene never thought things would end up how they did.
    Wonderful :)

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