Sherri 

Of the many opening lines 
desperate lovers long to hear 
a clinking of glass to glass
is offered up like the eucharist 
while a dead song plays 
barely audible 
over the din of laughter and
lack there of

You see that bright light 
to the left of the bartender – it says
last exit 
as in get out now 
it’s not a neon sign for shits and giggs
it’s a warning sign
your signals crossed 
you thought someone sent a code with 
the Chin don of yours and his 
Seven and Seven’s
you don’t hear the angels screaming
your name?

Some juggler of hearts 
hovers above the long mahogany 
of anyone’s bar 
peers into your crazy eyes that could and will
lie 

You’re quiet now
judge all men’s ties for a price-tag that affords you 
with all your baggage piled around the bar stool you stopped sitting on
decided to stand 
accent your height
draw attention to legs
that no one pays attention to

The eyes
the dead song 
you’re a sitting duck
offering slick lips to mother Hope
a day late and so many dollars short 
from a wild ride 
you stepped off of 
to cozy down 
into fuzzy nights filled with
no vacancy