INDEPENDENCE NOIR
(respectful nods)
The morning of
his thirtieth birthday
Frank woke up
eyes a-flutter
then tight shut
in a hotel bed
right arm out
alone.
OK -
except
he remembers -
somebody.
No false moves now
Frank rolls slow
up to his elbow
eyes slit
nothing
something -
nagging.
Bathroom
dark
leaves lights off
wet towels wet floor
robe crumbled in corner
torch tossed in tub
tiara hanging on shower head.
Must-a been some party, Frank.
Cigarette butt
in the sink
American Spirit
lipstick on the filter -
Her?
I don't recall, Your Honor.
Frank
throws the butt in the toilet
splashes water
wakes up a little less dead
gets dressed -
Where's my hat?
His star-spangled baseball cap.
Son-of-a-gun, she took my hat.
Shakes his head slow
skulks out the room
leaves by the stairs
won't trust his stomach to the elevator.
sunlight
Chinatown breakfast
over greasy and ham
rice
wonderbread - lots of jam
weak coffee
mumbles some give and get
with the cashier
not really up for bi-lingual banter
pays up - walks out
scans the street
looking for relief and -
Hey! That's my hat!
Star spangled
waiting for a bus
Number 14 pulls up
just like that and
just like that
out.
Frank watches to
crest of hill and
gone…
gone.
Slumps on bench
looks at feet
smells cigarette smoke
American Spirit -
lipstick on the filter
picks it up
thinks about it
takes the last hit.
OK, keep the damn hat.
Frank color of concrete
fades into the city
city fades to black
firecrackers in the alley
with liberty and justice
for all.
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