Karl Koweski: poem

KEITH

lived by a system of archaic morals
totally beyond my realm of comprehension

a system of morals which included
abstinence from drugs, booze,
strippers, and haircuts

as if this weren't enough
he listened to all that terrible
late eighties glam rock bullshit
like Poison, Trixter, and anyone
else who felt comfortable wearing
lipstick, mascara, crinoline
scarves and leather codpieces

Keith also fancied himself a bit
of an artist though his portfolio
was restricted to lifeless sketches
of elves, knights, and dragons

he claimed to fear no man cultivating
a theoretical bloodlust fueled
by sword and sorcery novels
he voraciously devoured

women existed in Keith's world only
to drain his bank account and
constantly humiliate him
to ease his loneliness, Keith
kept a ferret inexplicably
named Finkelstein which I called
Fecal Stain due to the sexual
perversions I believed Keith
committed with the weasel

what's really pathetic was
that I was Keith's only friend

what's even more pathetic is
that he was my only friend
and I hated the bastard