Encore




Sweaty brow wiped clean
With monogrammed hanky
He croons his tunes
Like howling at the moon
Nights are his daze and days, his drunkenness
Flushes out yesterday's woes with tonight's song
Bow tie hangs open and loose
Like a noose
That was made for a bigger man
Ice melts in a gin bath he nurses
Melting ice
A metaphor for life
He sings his song, sings his warning
"Goodnight folks, you've been a terrific audience."
He'll see them all tomorrow, mourning.
1