I be dapping
random *******
in the club.

A ***** walk up to me with a beer,
throws me a hand
and I dap him up.

We smile
and I don't even
know dude.

I swear
I've
signed Peace Treaties
in the club.

It's crazy, because sometimes
the girls
be acting foul
and cold;
even when you try
to grind
handing
them
a beer
as
a
peace-offering
they look back at you
across
demilitarized zones.

Dapping on the surface
Trailing a wake of
Rehashed hard luck stories
Mis-spent dreams and
Might have beens
Heedless that he is out-depthed
He holds to his line
And works the bar

Tied by a master
Plumage plucked to order
Starling blue, sparrow dun
Two fine threads
Gold and black
Crosswound, tied off
Sealed with honeywax -
Stealthy weapon of deception

He feels the shifting currents
He reads the weather-gauge
Spring tide, autumn flood
Both echo in his veins
Gnarly and half-sodden
The old fly baits his game
Past his best, yes - but
Potent all the same

*The fish are wary
But the fly is patient

I remember,
Slight glances and simply smiles,
Nods, waves and dapping the hallways.
Do you remember?

I remember,
Thinking time wasn’t on my side,
Or it was the right person wrong time when,
You said you had no manners, then introduced yourself with “hi’
When you asked for my name,
Then my number and zodiac sign
That day in the summer rain

I remember
Cuts and slices before practice,
Your hoodie
And game day,
Sitting on crowded bleachers,
Hearing missed parlays and the crowd cheering your name,

I remember,
Half truths and broken promises,
Just friends
And lost sentiments
Added lies to your body of closets,
With the weapons hidden under your bed,

I remember,
When we were oui,
And sweet memories turned bittersweet,
As I dumped Polaroids of you me,
And immaturity
Paragraphs of “I’m sorries”
With not a trace of sincerity.

I remember
Do you remember?
Or is your memory just a delusion of a picture painted to perfection
Where all flaws are non-existent,
And whatever this was,  isn’t best left as dead.