Record Body Count

Martin Tielli

Joey pulled himself to his feet,

Hauled his body back up the bank

And looked back down there.

He said the water was not that deep;

"But I almost drowned there."

You can drown in a bathtub so they say.

"Someone in class called me a loser,

So I decided to skip the day...

I tried to look casual sneaking round the back,

Past the shotput across the track

And to the gate beside the portables.

But a red tie and school gray slacks

Doesn't blend in with the grass

As the teacher was changing class.

He chased me halfway through the park,

Till I ran into the woods;

And I'm very good in the woods.

So I was an Indian,

Built a fire by the creek

And dried my eyes there."

There's a record body count this year.

Joey stepped up on a block of ice,

Put a rope around his neck,

And fell asleep before he died.