early retirement (following the death of his wife)


Mr. _____________ is loud
when speaking of his high days in advertising-
       drinking at the Boston Pub,
       before everyone knew it as Cheers.
Now his juicy boots
slosh suede on peeling wood floors.
Stairs groan
under his focus toward the kitchen,
        grimy green-
        single bulb insipid.
Everything rattles in his quest for a cup.
He shouts indirect accusations about missing supplies,
       while his empties are stacked in the recycling bin.
He shouts with the baseball radio broadcast,
       arms spurting from hunched examination
       of his carefully catalogued card collection.
He shouts to the neighbors about their kids and dogs,
He shouts at Dan Rather,
He shouts hello's forward with a slap on the back,
He shouts at the dining room table
       when it bites his shin in the evening stumble
       from recliner to bed.
He shouts inside
                           inside
                                       inside.

From my corner of the couch I think
drinking is the only thing he does quietly.