Just Keep On Walking

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I actually know the backstory to this poem, and the story it tells is not a one-off about my father; he was famous - across two marriages and a long-term relationship that produced three children - for heading out the door to run a quick errand and not be seen again for days or weeks at a time. I will tell that story in a long-form essay, but, for now, take the poem at face value, knowing that the message it conveys is not a whimsical one-off from the guy who was a rolling stone before being a rolling stone was cool.

“Just Keep On Walking” by Richard C. Poff

When I got to the corner

The traffic light turned red

I stopped and tried to recollect

The things my wife just said

"you go down to that grocery store

And don't stop in that bar

Get yourself right back here too

I know it's not that far"

As I got near that swinging door

I heard the Jukebox playing

Her vision stood before me

Again, I heard her say

"you go down to that grocery store

Don't stop in that Saloon

Just keep walking right on by

And get yourself back soon"

Just keep on walking

Right on by

That's what she said boys

And that's no lie

But boys, it's hard to do

When you are dry

So I kept on walking

Right inside