A Night to Remember

Women and children first
I loosen my tie and fill drinks for the band
Though the bass player is gone now
He and his slippery old shoes.
These are times that remind me
Of forest paths and other sounds
The sweat of a long walk.
The angles become steeper
And we bid farewell to the drummer
Along with his rolling clatter
Out of sight and returned to his humbleness
And I'm sure
I must look humorous
Smiling in a tuxedo
With a tilted Scotch.
I swirl the ice and then look off into the water
And though I can't hear it
While it froths and gurgles and consumes
The water is dark as eye sockets
And after I collect my coat
I will blink the dryness
From my own eyes
And start the night like so many others.