Jonathan Berger's Poetry: Poem of the Day
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BAD PICTURE

The picture of you
I keep up
on the wall
beside my bed
above my forehead
was taken when you were angry
because you hadn't worked out in three days
since the curse.

You're all pimply and pale
and, they say the camera adds ten pounds?
You must have been wearing a lumpy camera sweat-suit that day.

You'd just chipped your tooth
and your dentist's appointment was day's away
but that didn't stop your from taking that home-made
anesthetic my uncle brews
and your hair was all a horrible mess.

You didn't want me to take the picture,
I remember, and you chased me around the place,
trying to get the camera back.
But you were so weak, so tired,
so coughy sick exhausted
I easily out-distanced you.

It is, without doubt, the worst shot of you that any has ever taken,
and no matter how I may categorize
or demonize you
since what has happened,
I doubt I'll ever move it from the wall
beside my bed
above my forehead.

It just makes it easier, you know?