P hineas Morton is not a happy guy
that’s not to say he’s sad
he just decided long ago
not to live life on the extremes
so he would describe himself as
well
as centered
Phineas Morton is a centered guy
I’m Mortimore Magee
his best friend
and frequent visitor
Phineas lives
in the abandoned hull
of an old
yellow
school bus
which he’s fixed up to be
”just fine”
he assures
”lotta make-do, bit’a magic”
he was left there
by his parents
when he was 12
as they went off to find
well
“to find happiness”
he bemoans
this situation may also account
for his less than enthusiastic embrace
of the whole concept of happiness
Phineas dreams of
someday doing something
well
”something interesting”
shunning the extreme nature
of great
he is not really interested
in doing something great
interesting will do just fine
Phineas has a girlfriend
well
“sort of a girlfriend”
he says
“more like a girl acquaintance
sounds less all in”
he explains
which suits his centeredness
just fine
her name is Flo
Flo Humpledorf
though she has come to spell it
P-h-l-o
as an expression
of her affinity for Phineas
you know
Phineas and Phlo
well anyway
Phineas wants everyone to know
that while he waits
for his interesting life to begin
he can be found
”out by ole’ Doc Patterson’s pond”
in his shell of a bus
“you’re more than welcome to come by”
he says
just between you and me
if you do
don’t act too happy
if you know what I mean
it doesn’t sit well with the lad
also
if you decide to come by
bring some jelly beans
red jelly beans
why
because I love red jelly beans
and I really am there
a lot!
*
rob kistner © 2021
Poetry at: dVerse
https://youtu.be/bl9bvuAV-Ao