Afflecks Palace buzzes
with bee-like drones on a Saturday.
Busy day, busy-busy people,
petting and preening
for the bank-balancing tricks
of daily dirges.
Angeline, sits lotus-like
corner of Tib Street
waits for Johnny-
his first day out
seven days into detox,
gets him an early-doors pass.
She plucks cellophane wraps
from chewing gum held in her hand,
disguising last night's party-breath.
[knowing he'd had a week of it!
hellish hounds
on his tail]
She was going to treat him:
a veggie burger from the second floor
then head up to Lil's Antiques,
to play dress-up with the old clothes
& super-stylish hats.
-Johnny played sax in Matt & Phred's
Ange tended bar several nights a week.
he said she had gypsy eyes & fruiterer lips
claimed that the frottage of her flamenco
skirts would flip any man's coin.
Angeline asked him,
as they ploughed through taco crisps
& hummus at Sam's.
- if you know all those big words
why can't you stop drinking.
Johnny picked his sax
from its case & busked-out
some Charlie Parker
[the whole cafe-clique,
stopped; silent and listened]
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