2PENS&LINT
a new direction in poetry
2 Pens & Lint LLC
P.O. Box 3292
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Love Can’t Wait
Could it be the way
You move so elegantly
From table to table
Or the streaks in your hair
Reminiscent of how you
Streak to the kitchen to
Place my order
I think I’m in love
Frequent visits to the restaurant
I got a glimpse of your name tag
And now I request
For a seat in your section
In between refills
I introduce myself
Slip in random questions
Hoping for a response
Throw in my name
Thinking you would catch on
Now we’re on a first name basis
You even know how I like my drink
But I notice that you treat
Every game the same way
To my dismay, I sign my receipt
I guess I’m just another tip.
-Mr. Enlightenment
-Love Can't Wait is featured in Walletz & Pursez.
An Unconventional Reward
I
was convinced
That nice guys
Finshed last
Until I finally
Won a trophy
The trophy had a
Few scratches
But I cleaned it
And shined it up regularly
You couldn't tell that
It had been scarred from the past
Strangely this trophy came
With its own base
I decided to discard it
And replace it with
My own method of support
After a while
My trophy started
To complain about
Not feeling loved
Actually the trophy got
More attention than any other
Prize on my mantle piece
It missed its original base
The stability that it gave
Was different than mine
I tried my best to make
It feel at home
My prized possession
Began to compare me
To previous owners
Eventually I couldn’t
Deal with the comparisons
As good as the trophy made
Me feel inside
It wasn’t worth how bad it
Made me feel at the same time.
-Mr. Enlightenment
-An Unconventional Reward is featured in Walletz & Pursez.
In The Stands
Safety regulations are not a concern
As two immovable objects participate
In head on collisions
A helmet flies through the air
Like a wounded bird
Cheerleaders fly through the air
Flipping and tumbling in the name of their team
Painted faces and bodies of those who bleed their team colors
High fives, chest bumps and masculine pats on the butt
The synchronization of the band
As they give their halftime phonics lesson
The stadium transforms in to an episode of Soul Train
The music is like a flute
Taming a cobra
The coach smiles and paces the sideline
Shirt neatly tucked into his pants
A few unexecuted plays later
His shirt hangs sloppily
And his face is candy apple red
For three hours
Everyone is smiling
And screaming at
The top of their lungs
How things change
As a frowning middle aged man
Sweeps the stands of trash
In silence.
-Mr. Enlightenment
-In The Stands is featured in Walletz & Pursez.
Confessions of a Cheapskate
I’m a cheapskate by nature
Saving my money is a hobby
I hold onto my finances
Like a preacher’s daughter
Does her virginity
I’ll give my time and effort
But don’t hold your breath
If you ever inquire about a loan
Actually I do spend money
On the person I love the most
Yours truly…
I earned it
So it’s only right
That I reap the benefits
Don’t get me wrong
I do know how to treat a lady
But not just any lady
Will be wined and dined
Once you are proven worthy
I’ll gladly take you to the mall
And take a few things off the shelves
Cheap I may be
Conservative with the currency
Call me what you want
But don’t call me broke.
-Mr. Enlightenment
-Confessions of a Cheapskate is featured in Walletz & Pursez.
Newly Wed, Newly Divorced
I was a newly wed
Trying to juggle three jobs
Husband, father, and CEO
I wanted to give birth to a business
Help it take its first steps
Spent so much time at the office
I wasn’t there to help my marriage
Take its first steps
Family outings, Dinner as a group
I know my job like the back of my hand
But didn’t know how my wife’s day went
I felt out of the loop
Compliments and kisses on the cheek
I used to admire her curves
Hot sex nightly was the norm
She no longer waits up for me
My side of the bed is colder than a winter’s night
She took it upon herself
To seek entertainment
Late nights with her girls
Before she used to call me at work
Lately she’s to busy to
Pick up her phone
Now I’m in court
Wondering what went wrong
A judge’s gavel decides my fate
I couldn’t give her all the support she needed
So she got an attorney to help her collect
We were one in holy matrimony
Now I give her my love
In the form of alimony.
-Mr. Enlightenment
-Newlywed, Newly Divorced is featured in Walletz & Pursez.
Purchase Walletz & Pursez by Mr. Enlightenment
2 Pens & Lint Interview with Mr. Enlightenment