Suit coat dangling loosely
on a pair of bony shoulders,
alligator shoes shiny & old
stain draped slacks
pressed and worn boldly-

only seated where comfortable,
and whenever asked
'why you don't go see this one'
or
'why you don't go over such & such,'
calmly he'd state,
"They don't dance my type of dance
or drink my kind of drink,"
lifting his cognac drenched glass
with a smirk and wink.

Dreary days and nights
found John inebriated
for reasons unknown,
yet friendly and charismatic
poised with no hint of excitement
or unusual panic-

storefront sitter
wise cracker
comical story spitter
dusk or dawn,
Ripple John.