20-SOMETHING

20-SOMETHING

These are my friends, blurs and blocks of colors, pixels caught in a digital flash, someone turns, says hold it. The shutter does not snap but moan, says thank goodness. We sway and hook arms around shoulders. We tip back at the rafters, make plans this time next week. Records round round, someone plays clarinet, someone speaks of Artie Shaw. We have such in blocks and blurs of color. Collage parties, bring your own scissors. We all come home, smelling of cigarettes, all spin glad for one more chance. This is for the friends I left in Wyoming, waiting on a front porch, saddles hefted upon shoulders. And here’s a toast to Missoula cronies bumping corners, corner booths, the pinball of night, flashing, flashing. We say call me tomorrow. We say, don’t forget. We make plans and plans, think breakfast with ambition, but take dinner as more likely. These are friends and friends of friends, pretty girls in sweaters, fellas swirling scotch. We say winter needs more momentum, we say cabins and snow, we cry out for parents’ cars and high school nights, we say play that one song, you know, we leave ice melting in drinks and cigarettes smell in hair and shoulders. We say next week, we say just right, just right.

Tall shuddering blondes cast long looks, fur collars smooth necklines and neon. Leather boots flash under tables, legs twine. We say take us calliope circus sway, we say, lights falling, flashing mean more here, this hour this night. She stands under tile street numbers, says take this picture, winter branches reaching. We say don’t give me fragments, say the whole sentence. But really, conversations mid-stride and wool coats carry us through December. Banjos strum and we smile, catch light like cameras, say collages create context, not the other way around. For once circles and circles cross. Wool hats pull down, bob haircuts with flips. Gas firelogs only so far for warmth. Cateye glasses only go so far for for style. We turn collars up and lean on doorways, we smile sideways and watch shadows. We say, how fine to see you and it’s true. We don’t lie to look good.