The Lawn

 

The Lawn

 

Johnson knew what he wanted; his feelings always sure,

Johnson always got what he wanted; a soul not always pure.

Johnson, once a poor man, took what he craved from life,

Johnson, not a nice man, feared not the use of knife.

 

Johnson took what you never gave,

Johnson would dance upon your grave.

 

Gabriel, versed in the Old Way, lived but a door away.

Gabriel prayed for a neighbor; he knew of Johnson’s way.

Gabriel was quite familiar with his neighbor’s rantings,

Gabriel found it wisest to shun such foolish pantings.

 

Gabriel pursued only the right.

Gabriel danced for it in the night.

 

Johnson had a beautiful home with but one pain in the ass –

Johnson had a lawn chock full of crabgrass.

Johnson’s desire of a fine lawn soon became his need,

John arranged to pay little for only the best seed.

 

Johnson watched the seedsmen well.

Johnson gave the seedsmen hell.

 

Gabriel watched his neighbor’s poison and was filled with sadness.

Gabriel thought that he'd help Johnson to find some gladness.

Gabriel danced on Johnson’s lawn to draw the power of Earth.

Gabriel danced on Johnson’s lawn three nights for all that he was worth.

 

Gabriel danced to bring sun and rain.

Gabriel danced to ease a man’s pain.

 

Johnson stepped from his back door on the third night of dance.

Johnson had his shotgun loaded – “That hippie has no chance.”

John raised his weapon and drew a level bead,

Johnson told his neighbor, “Get the FUCK off my grass seed.”

 

Johnson thought he’d paid much money,

Johnson thought it wasn’t funny.

 

Gabriel said, “Johnson, one word and then I will be gone.”

Gabriel said, “Tomorrow you will have your lawn.”

Gabriel stood and listened and kept watch all that night,

Gabriel stood and listened and kept watch ‘til dawn’s light.

 

Gabriel let go Johnson’s rile,

Gabriel would see Johnson smile.

 

Johnson stepped from his house to work, commit further sins.

Johnson waded through grass far above his shins.

Johnson glanced and observed the long-haired man,

Johnson did not smile – Johnson formed a plan.

 

Johnson would steal what Gabriel gave.

Johnson would dance on Gabriel’s grave.

 

Gabriel saw his neighbor, yet he saw no grin.

Gabriel felt his hope fail and die within.

Gabriel then went in and slept through all day’s light.

Gabriel heard a knock upon his door quite late that night.

 

Gabriel could guess who it was.

Gabriel did not know the cause.

 

Johnson had planned and schemed all through that day,

Johnson was determined he would have his way.

Johnson walked over to his neighbor’s home,

Johnson had made certain that they’d be alone.

 

Johnson with a heart of ice,

Johnson without thinking twice.

 

Gabriel smiled and bid Johnson in.

Gabriel felt cold steel against his skin.

Gabriel wondered at what he had begun,

Gabriel wondered at the feel of a gun.

             

Gabriel now heard Johnson rave.

Gabriel felt his face grow grave.

 

Johnson now told the shaman, told him his big plan –

Johnson wanted THE lawn, wanted it now, man.

Johnson saw the results of Gabriel’s three nights dancing.

Johnson wanted what Gabriel’s  efforts of three weeks would bring.

 

Johnson felt that time was wasting.

Johnson said to Gabriel, “SING!”

 

Gabriel said, “You must know that these things, these grasses, they are alive.”

Gabriel said, “They live, but deeply sleep, so that all may survive.”

Gabriel said, “Your lawn I spoke to, but it I did not wake.”

Gabriel said, “I fear that if I do more, it will be a grave mistake.”

 

Gabriel hoped he could dissuade.

Gabriel hoped he could persuade.

 

Johnson thought that the hippie was a lout.

Johnson thought that the hippie was holding out.

Johnson would have none of Gabriel’s talk.

Johnson would not let Gabriel balk.

 

Johnson wasn’t having fun.

Johnson raised the shotgun.

 

Gabriel shook his head and he sighed deeply.

Gabriel moved to a lawn that he knew sleepy.

Gabriel moved into his trance.

Gabriel moved and danced his dance.

 

Gabriel hoped no grass to hail.

Gabriel hoped that he would fail.

 

Johnson made his neighbor dance all that night.

Johnson kept his trigger finger tight.

Johnson saw the morn’s sunrise.

Johnson could not believe his eyes.

 

Johnson saw a strange sight:

Johnson saw grasses give off light.

 

Gabriel felt power beneath his feet,

Gabriel felt life within the lawn beat.

Gabriel told Johnson, “This is unnatural, I see you know.”

Gabriel told Johnson, “If I were you, I’d let this grow.”

 

Gabriel turned and walked away.

Gabriel had no more to say.

 

Johnson stood as the grass shone brightly,

Johnson decided it was unsightly.

Johnson stood but seconds – watched the grass grow.

Johnson decided it was time to mow.

 

Johnson disliked what this lawn gave.

Johnson would dance on this lawn’s grave.

 

Gabriel was a man of many strengths.

Gabriel though had never gone such lengths.

Gabriel and wakefulness soon did part.

Gabriel never heard the mower start.

 

Gabriel was wakened by a scream.

Gabriel knew he did not dream.

 

Johnson and mower had chopped into Lawn.

Johnson was soon gripped by blades swift and strong.

Johnson was quickly entwined by furious grass.

Johnson felt it rip into his sorry ass.

 

Johnson then was quickly beaten.

Johnson then was quickly eaten.

 

Gabriel ran to his neighbor’s screaming call.

Gabriel saw his neighbor’s nightmarish fall.

Gabriel leaped, but so did Lawn.

Gabriel escaped with scars thin and long.

 

Gabriel knew there was a soul to save –

So, Gabriel danced on Johnson’s grave.

 

Cliff Lake 10/22/’97 (revised 9/26/’19, 10/23/’23)

Copyright © Clifford Lake 1997