Jerry, My Friend

Like ceramics, buildings tumbling Sight gags and smokestacks Shakespeare in Time Square smuggling Lip gloss and handbags Wolves on the watch for the pilots and their pistols The wires sway like the towers above them Dimebags, daffodils and penny whistles If this doesn't sound familiar it's because I've never been to New York The rattle of the rain and the cinnamon whiskey On the chimney sweeps perspiring forehead Blisters on his feet, hands of obsidian The last laugh of a doorman Revolving as if loaded or on a ferris wheel Lonely backseat cold Dramamine and alcohol Primrose mud-flaps, popsicles Tell me is there something more than this I should know? Spliff at the skate park before the show Rhinestone rifles and rodeos Crossed state lines for tobacco Spent the last of my change on a cherry coke- Ball caps tattered edges Chipping fingernail paint Faintly recall that your wrist was sprained Divets in the pool table fabric Indented like dimples on a water mattress Eight ball popped off the edge and chipped on the ground There's smoke outside and carnivorous Calendar men with clove cigarettes Lining the pockets of their jackets next to retired cassettes Jerry my friend, when will you start signing again? The drinks have gone warm in the time since you left Last call's coming and we haven't picked up the check My chest hurts Lonely basement cold Bruises sore on my hip-bones Arose to the stutter of the stove Stan's pack was there, but he was gone Stole a smoke, strolled and talked on the phone You were scared like a chaperone I just didn't want to be alone Returned to locked doors, sat outside and got stoned The shadows of the flag wrapped like a handkerchief on the headstones