Some Things I Have Overheard

Marilyn Nelson

Man, explaining Disneyland's "Bear Country Jamboree" to an attentive young woman: Some bears…they sing.

Woman, giving a lesson in church: I work at the mental hospital, and the people there…well, if I didn't have an understanding of psychology, I would just think they were crazy.

Man, to sparse audience, at an open-mic poetry night: This is a poem I wrote, in French. I don't speak French, but I have a French dictionary.

Man and woman, sitting at a table at Sizzler
Man: Have you heard of Eugene Ionesco?
Woman: No.
Man: Have you heard of The Rhinoceros?
Woman: No.
Man: Well, he wrote it.

Man and woman, holding hands, walking briskly along a tree-lined walkway at a park
Man: Will you be my running mate?
Woman: Running mate?

Two women, sitting on an airplane
Woman #1: I'm sorry you're upset.
Woman #2: Oh, I don't get upset anymore.

Woman, addressing a gathering of hundreds of teenage girls: Have you ever stumbled around in the dark and stubbed your toe and said, "Ouch, that hurts!" I know I have.

Two men, waiting in line to donate blood
Man #1: Hey, I thought you graduated.
Man #2: No, that was my wife.
Man #1: Man, that's rough.