down at the pickled gherkin,
grumpy chats with lugrubious ***
the doorman, and buys a raffle ticket..

happy sees his chance and in
past the exclamations!
past the snake skin and silver spur-

a blur of paw-the chase is on..
under the tables
under the chairs

a sleight pause for
a ham and cress
and past the slots

past the snug
around the waitress
past the dart board

past the band-
johny crash and the sad
past ernie

past the bar
past the kitchen
past the television

past the raffle prizes
and champagne
past the past-

the authorities gaining
but onto the dance floor
and clasps lovingly

around a cow-girls gyrating thigh
and some fancy footwork
where he is finally and rightly

collared-literally..amid acrimony
and apology
he is led away..

but for a swan song
he drops like a stone
to a puddle of larger

immovable but for a long
pink tongue
ambrosia..

scene three-
mum-he did it again?!
happy but a price to pay..