I asked him what his name was
Like seven times
And still I couldn’t
Get my head wrapped around it
The sounds fired like shots of brandy
Lit aflame in the flask

I stood near him
All night long
Mouth flapping
Mind wandering
Wondering where SHE was
Wishing I was swimming in her ear instead

We found this way
Of putting on lip gloss
She has to make sure to spread enough
And two by two
We glossify
And giggle

I liked it better when they each were just mine
They existed not in life, but in stories
Crafted by an expert hand
Shared in tongues
Of laughter

It can never go back to before
No shutting doors
We’re through
Or at least over the threshold by now
The only question that remains
Is the one thing that pertains
To all of us
Three two one.

She calls to me across the maddening din:

Are you heading out?
Or just getting in?