Backchat

Billy Joel penned two songs archiving his ascent
‘ Piano Man ’
a loving obituary to those passed on the way up
and
‘ The Entertainer ’
kiss and tell
of cheap success
shark agents
one night shows and one night stands
of lessons learned
by making the same mistake twice.

Some people never have a first name
he was just Kearney
the night baker
he seemed to belong to night
even here, where there was none.

I told him we’d been through this
already been through it before
that
there wouldn’t be a third time.
He was quiet
sullen
attentive
no opposition
just like the first time.

I said I hoped he understood
face empty of expression
his eyes slowly blinking
a screen waiting for the download.
Impressed?
Contrite?
Match met?

Mission accomplished walks away
air rushes past
a bird escaping from a cage.
The knife thudded into scrim
wrist width accuracy.

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