cause for celebration-
the setting sun bookends a shelf of daylight
empty pint glasses scarce
empty shot glasses nowhere
full bellies and hearts
belt decades-old tunes
awfully
and I
-a fly in the hole in the wall,
out of place, out of time
absorbing the debauchery
curious of their glee and reason
a sponge of misfortune wrung out
onto a barstool-
show teeth.
I smile
and with the grin comes understanding
a facade-filled room in lockstep
putting faith in a euphoric hoax
do they know what I know
or do they believe in their content justification
who cares?
say cheese

head west, heart east
head out, don’t leave
the crowning of things to come
the pains of a new labor, clutching
screams and wails in tandem harmony
fresh and alive and alone and scared
new lives seeking new life
born into desperation, answerless
ask more, answer less
fault and guilt lurk in shadows
head west, heart east
new legs, first steps, holding tight to walls
walls we built around ourselves
let go, flat ground, round earth, flat feet
step
       step
               step
breathe fresh air, speak new words
head west, heart east.