he sits at the end of the bar…salting his beer…watching Wheel Of Fortune in silence…wishing…wishing…

a jukebox played Summer Wind…City workers hummed along…chasing shots with cans of Old Style…bottles of Bud…a day’s work done…tomorrow…and the next day and the next day and…

an old biddy bartender who got a lot of action in her time…dancing in jazz joints…casts an eye on us all…dinners bought and paid for…very little cost…a kiss…a peck…the heavy stuff would come later…her lovers were always postponed…

i sit…sip…lengthen the last drop…soon it will be time…soon…

to go back to a bed with book in hand…a light-bulb glares…instant decaf soothes…poetry pours from the page…filling me up…filling me up…

goodnight my sweet…goodnight…from miles away…goodnight…