ODYSSEUS IN THE NIGHT (NAPOWRIMO 2015 #04)

Two beers, half

a shot of whisky, and

a pound of chicken

wings: carted over

to table six. He

had flexed, not once,

but multiple bills spilling

swiftly to the tray.

And in unchained dances

of figureless smoked lovers

waltzing against

flourescent lights,

I tipped my hat forward

and dropped a pencil —

ever too pointedly —

at his lap. The bar closed,

gingerly locked up by

masochistic barboys

like myself: he followed

me home, tipping me for

the night, tipping me for

the drinks. Chained like

wild bears at a circus,

he clambered in and

lay his hand on my

chest; muse-like

melodies retaken;

oh forgotten

mister;

lost and soulless

and odysseus

in the night