I thought I saw Raymond Carver
the left cheek was uncanny in comparison.
I thought I saw Raymond Carver
he harbored weak emotions, and smelled of gin.
I thought I saw Raymond Carver
he told me he was new in town and lived just up the road.
I thought I saw Raymond Carver
he asked me for a ride to escape the cold.
I thought I saw Raymond Carver
he told me he was finishing a book.
I thought I saw Raymond Carver
and no, he wasnt an illusion, or a crook.
I thought I saw Raymond Carver
clad in a pallid white blazer.
I thought I saw Raymond Carver
he offered me his hand; I asked him to count his fingers.

I thought I saw Raymond Carver
he told me he just wasn't feeling golden today.
I thought I saw Raymond Carver
I asked when his aspirations ran astray.
I thought I saw Raymond Carver and said:
" 'Why don't you dance?' is really fantastic".
I thought I saw Raymond Carver
like myself, he feels adept at being pathetic.
I thought I saw Raymond Carver
we are more alike than we are different
I thought I saw Raymond Carver
but when I left the storefront window he was gone in an instant.

When Followill sang "the walls came down"
I'm not entirely sure my heart was there at all.
I do know it was stunned, in stasis, encapsulated freeze- frame
instance.
I knew everyone in the room.
They made mimic sounds, and swayed about.
I was locked up.
There was no way I was getting out that easily; the tears would have their time.
Soaked western fabric along the length of my arm upon trying to stop them short.
These flooded emerald windows yield rivers of January.
Curtains down. Applause.