The Smiths
were playing in the background,
I couldn't tell if it was in the bar or in my lager smelling dorm room dappled with posters memory.
Princeton windowpanes dusted with clusters of snowflakes pressed
against the dark wood in the bar basement.

and so, she said, twisting her straw,
*i used to have a problem with morality, you know?
and *** and stuff?
i was just a kid then.
then he'd tell me stroking my hair
'babydoll, i love you though,'
and i'd say 'i know.
there'll come the day that you don't,
though.'

that shut him up, real good.'