11 o'clock on a Friday evening I walked through closed doors Into the rustic old bar I sat in the faded bar stool that creaked like the floorboards on the stained seat cushion molded to fit my *** like a glove From the regular nights
The bartender walked by twitching his mustache, cleaning an old mug I slapped my hand on the tarnished bar He nodded, filling a patchwork glass with the same old beer That swished frothily in my mouth with the taste Of old gym socks and dog ****
I stared into the mirror reflection before me Examining people while sipping my taint of a beer The waitress reciting play lines devotedly between orders Still trying to get into her new life on Broadway Stuffing tips in her mismanaged pockets that wanted a college degree, but chose fancy clothes
A lawyer and a teacher in the corner of the room No one likes drinking alone Sitting in a battered, splattered seat booth Lamenting about their dreaded work Wishing in their heart of hearts That the paths they had chosen at 19 were switched One found he loved kids and one loved the justice system If only it were simple to swap uniforms and degrees
Two destitute prostitutes lingering, smoking wispy cigs outside Waiting for work One wanted to be a dentist Till the ****** that protected her dreams broke And she lost her baby regardless And the other wanted to be a politician Until her dreams were beaten down by A man, a level below Neanderthal, who viewed her body As a conversation where his fists do the talking
The bartender stalled at the TV between drinks Observing the young sports analyst on the TV In a crisp, tailored suit with slick black hair Nostalgically imagining himself talking emphatically about his passion Mouthing the comments of what the analyst should've been saying But he served drinks filled with faded dreams
And I turned and saw myself in the glossy mirror Holding the poor excuse for a drink to my lips And I saw the people around me like spirits in my eyes I worked 9-5 in an office that’s as fun as feet being nailed to the ground The only thing I changed in my routine whether I did my Laundry on a Friday or Saturday And I twitched my hand to ask for a different drink But I kept it down and sipped on my beer