The Straitjackets: Poetry of Raymond 'Rusty' Strait

The North

page 11

Poetry:

WHAT IF?

What if you were a writer?
Would you write the great American novel?
What if you were a preacher?
Would you save the world?
What if you were an engineer?
Would you build a better dam?
What if you were an architect?
Would you be the next Frank Lloyd Wright?
What if you were a singer?
Would you be the next Pavarotti?
What if you were a fashion designer?
Would you be the toast of Paris?
What if you were a General?
Would you win great wars?
What if you were President?
Would you solve the problems of the world?
There are a lot of what ifs in life,
But the most important question is this.
What if you were just yourself?
What then?

Things

Is it any wonder the English language is so difficult when you consider "Things?"
Things has many meanings.
How are things?
Get your things together.
Things change.
Things are lousy.
Things are looking up.
Things don’t mean a thing.
I bought some things on line today.
Don’t let things get you down.
I’ve got a lot of things on my mind.
Some things.
A few things
Those things.
These things.
Things in Washington.
Family things.
Miscellaneous things.
Fixing things.
Right things.
Wrong things.
There are a lot of things to do.
There are a lot of things to see.
Things happen.
How did things turn into such a mess?
Things have screwed up my life.
They do things differently where I come from.
Things are like the weather - first there’s one thing and then there’s another.
Things are under control.
Things are out of control.
And - some things are just that. Things!

Raymond Strait is the author of over thirty books including THE TRAGIC SECRET LIFE OF JAYNE MANSFIELD (Henry Renery-USA 1974; Robert Hale, London 1976), ROSEMARY CLOONEY STORY (Playboy Press 1977, Playboy Press
papberback 1979), and BOB HOPE: A TRIBUTE (Kensington, 2003). He currently resides in Hemet, CA. For his websuite, see raymondstrait.com