No Joke

Somebody walks into a bar,

says, “You suckers are luckers!”

and orders two drinks, a double

scotch on the rocks for himself

and a Cuba Libre for Nobody.

The bartender and two patrons

at the far end of the bar watch

as he slowly finishes his, pays

for both, and exits, leaving the

untouched drink sweating in

its glass. Five minutes late and

breathless, Nobody enters, picks

up the Cuba Libre, drains it in

one fast thirsty gulp. “Ah,” he

states, swiping his mouth with

his sleeve, “now that’s what I

call the true taste of Freedom!”

The bartender is cleaning the

counter and doesn’t look up.

The two patrons are bent deep

in conversation. Nobody shrugs,

says, “You luckers are suckers!”

and exits. The bartender lifts

the glass, still full, wipes under

it, and asks, “Anybody want

a free drink?” “Damn straight!”

hollers one patron. The other

laughs, “Ain’t America Great!?”

---

John Martino is a writer, educator, and avid traveler currently residing in Hong Kong. Some of his wayward poems have found a home at North Dakota Quarterly, Another Chicago Magazine, Packingtown Review, Heart of Flesh, and The Southern Quill, among others. He is the Executive Editor at Home Planet News (homeplanetnews.com).