Poetry by DeWitt Clinton

              ​ Matheus Bazzo CC



​Right as Rain

Today, the longest day by the way, and thinking about all
The days going way back, I’m not lonely, which of course
Could be total denial, but all who do know me think that
Too, but I’d like to believe I’m just alone, and I’m okay
With that.  Alone a lot.  Sort of like an old tree, oak maybe,
Though I’m not scheduled yet for death and destruction,
But everyone else is talking about a possible trim at the
Top, as a few dead branches have started to appear.
But still, I’m standing, somewhat tall, taller really than
All the others on the block, though we all know not
For long.  I’m also pretty much alone in the pool even if
There’s two of us lapping back and forth, or worse,
A third, and I’m standing or lying over in the corner
In the yoga studio, and no one ever thinks of coming
Over and getting into one’s space, unless something
Needs correcting, and I’m corrected often, so someone
Does come over and moves a foot just slightly, or an
Arm or a hip, depending, of course.  I’m eating alone
Now, and dining still like the gentleman I hope I’ve been,
Not gulping, like my cat always does, down in a flash.
Movies now are mostly in the dark.  Dreams are still
In the dark, reclined and probably snoring loudly, 
And there’s no one to recognize but sometimes there’s
You, who wants to drop in every now and then.
No one reads over my shoulder the news, or reads
Aloud a headline I’m not reading.  No one answers
The phone anymore, not even me, as I’ve given up
On all the unidentified spams.  You’re picking up
A theme, right, and you’re worried I’m too alone,
Even if that’s a preference, like Bartleby, but I see
You all out there, but I’m just not going to come over
And blab on for who knows how long with you, as
I just couldn’t.  But if I saw a hint of a smile, or a 
Totally unexpected hello there, okay, I’m right here,
I’ll be right over.  I’m okay, really, right as rain.




DeWitt Clinton taught English, Creative Writing, and World of Ideas courses for over 30 years at the University of Wisconsin—Whitewater. His earlier collections of poetry include The Conquistador Dog Texts, The Coyot. Inca Texts, (New Rivers Press), At the End of the War (Kelsay Books, 2018), By A Lake Near A Moon:  Fishing with the Chinese Masters (Is A Rose Press, 2020), and Hello There (Word Tech Communications, 2021).  
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