Calling Jonathan

(This was another poem I authored during the first few months of my lifelong battle with severe bipolar disorder and OCD. As I recall, this, like so many of my other pieces during the first three or four years of my poetry career, was inspired by rock 'n roll. The piece that inspired this one, interestingly, was an old Dire Straits song called "Calling Elvis" that was released in 1991 on the album "On Every Street." The beats and part of the title to that great song inspired this piece.)

Calling Jonathan                                           Spring/Summer 2002

Calling Jonathan. Anybody home? 

I've come to find him. Is he with a gnome? 

Last night, I called. Said he was "OK." 

He predicted a sunny day, 

But today was gray. 

Come to find out, he left his lights on. 

Yet despite no note, I knew he was gone. 

Where to? You asked. I do not know. 

He could be anywhere. Anywhere indeed. 

Things were so tough. Just look around and see. 

The bandwagon ran off and left him. So sad to see. 

He never told me. He kept it a secret. 

Guess he didn't wanna bother me. He shoulda known better. 

I'd've patted his back, given him a hug, all of that. 

How all the lil' kids did pick on him! 

How did he cope with that, with everything so grim? 

The answer is he didn't ever. Not at all. 

He swept it under the rug. It kept piling up. 

The more I keep lookin', the more depressed this all makes me. 

Here's a record of "Heartbreak Hotel." 

That must've been where he checked in at, 

But then he'd've been checked in some time ago.