Smarts

By John Sierpinski

You had the smarts to finish
all your homework during
study hall in high school
much to your sister’s chagrin.
(she had to bring her work home)
Later, you aced drafting in
the community college
although you wanted to work
with your hands, tools, 
figure things out. You became
a cable guy technician until
they thought you were having
a stroke, were diagnosed 
with MS and couldn’t work. 
That accelerated the downslide 
that the drink had already begun.
At the MS conference we 
attended, you couldn’t help
seeing the guys in wheelchairs.

John Sierpinski has published poetry in many literary journals such as North Coast Review, California Quarterly, and Spectrum to name a few. He is a multiple Pushcart Prize nominee. His three volumes of poetry are published by Cholla Needles Art and Literary Library. He lives in Yucca Valley, California.