D.R. James
THE DAY I GOT MY TIMING DOWN
It was in that phase of pure
sarcasm, midteens, when guys
work out an awkward stance,work their pack’s patter
till they maybe have it. I don’t
really remember the day butthe single-moment wonder of hitting
my first come-back just right
by accident, then their free, truelaughter and my perfect follow-up,
the never looking back. From there
a career: from Senior Class Clown,to smooth talker in any crowd, to
flip teacher spinning lit, to wordsmith
chiseling chin-up come-backsto the tin-clad sarcasms
every life dishes out as it
disarms or drops you orleaves you hanging, slamming
its clanging locker door in your
gullible, stuttering face.
–from Rattle #27, Summer 2007
