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
This is a fantastic tale told in a fine narrative voice, Rob. I could just picture Phineas in his shell of a bus, waiting for ‘something interesting’ to happen. A tragic story, but then again, there’s a kind of bohemian freedom to his lifestyle!
I like how you tell this from the perspective of Mortimer, but give Phineas a voice too. Great response to the prompt!
Thank you Ingrid! I really did not think I was starting out in this direction, but it is where I ended up. Probably need to have a psychologist analyze what this story means. I spent several hours trying to understand it. Oh well – the subconscious wants what the subconscious wants! My muse is not letting me in on the secret meaning, but I have my opinion.
Phineas and Phlo! What fun you must have had with this one, and maybe there’s a bit of you that might like to be living in a renovated bus by a pond somewhere! A great read.
Thank you Bev! It had been a dream, since we moved here to Oregon in 1990, to live on a small raised peninsula. of several acres, that jutted into a pristine wilderness lake — full of trout and Kokanee. It would be gated and private, with a wonderful boat dock with two McKenzie River drift boats, fully outfitted for fishing. One would be motorized with a 15HP trolling motor. The dock would be accessible by stairs and a small paved path for my electric cart. There would be a small enclosure adjacent the dock for fishing gear and weather wear, that would also house the cart while we were out on the lake. My big dream that never came true. Although our little Oregon home of 30 years, in the old-growth of the Mt Hood foothills, close by the pure-water Clackamas mountain river, was certainly wonderful! It was made even more beautiful by Kathy’s “magic garden” of various exotic grasses and giant palms and ferns — and my esoteric variety of lilies. I only had one McKenzie River drifter that I had to trailer to the river, and a number of the regional mountain lakes — but I was blessed to have enjoyed years of excellent fishing for wild native trout, while my health allowed. To paraphrase Mick Jagger… sometimes you find you don’t get precisely what you want — instead, if you try, you find you get exactly what you need! So whose complaining? Not me! 🙂
Wondering …. are you partaking of the “Oregon Green” ….. this is phantasmagorical …. love it Rob!
I have been straight and sober as a saint since the mid 80’s Helen — but I also haven’t “come down” from my 22 years of real hard rockin’ with my bands. You remember when they talked about flashbacks?— well… 🙂
This reminds me of a school bus as a different sort of abode. Back in the late 50s, my aunt & uncle used a late 1930s school bus as a chicken coop.
I am certain old school buses have had many reincarnations Ken — they were built rugged.
I love the characters you have spun… they seem to live on the edge of life… it’s a lukewarm existence, but maybe there is comfort there as well.
They say that the pessimist is the happiest person since he’s always positively surprised.
Ghank you Bjorn, and I agree, pessimists are never disappointed… 🙂
Quite enjoyable. Phineas reminds me of Mediocre Fred (or is that Phred?)
Glad you liked it Ron… 🙂
Excellent narrative; free verse prose in poetic format. Your character names sound like those in a 30’s Hollywood zany comedy, and your outsider protagonists resonate with both W.C. Fields and Gary Snyder. Your Muse was “out there” today. Hugs.
Thanks Glenn, was feelin’ a bit zany t’day. This whole thing came about because I was blocked most of yesterday then I found that photo in the archives of my site… and, well. 🙂
This was …. well…. really great Rob! I love the effect well has on your poem. Such a great narrative! A hippie to the bone!!
Thank you Dwight… 🙂
A chuckle in every line! Kudos!
Thank you Susan… 🙂
I was so entertained by the story. The character description was detailed as well so I could imagined him and his “girlfriend”. Some people are that as well, waiting for life to happen to them.
Glad you liked this Grace. Yes, you are right. Some people are waiting for their life to begin, not realizing that it already started, a while ago. Life is happening, while we are busy making plans. There are also those who grow old and damaged, waiting for their life to end. Both are sad.
Wonderful! It just pulls the reader along irresistibly. It reminds me of an old friend who used to live in a train carriage.
Thank you Kate, pleased you enjoyed it… 🙂
My goodness this is absolutely stellar, Rob! I hung on to every detail 😀
So happy it resonated for you Sanaa…
Really enjoyed this narrative. Phileas’s philosophy is quite refreshing – not wanting to do something ‘great’, just something ‘interesting.’
I had fun with this Marion… 🙂