1409

he knows too much

eyes up from the piano

down

then down

just a crown over the sheet music

the guests are pondering

the questions

and the prince has a goblet

pouring red onto the floor

someone wants some answers

but I’m still trying

to dig out from

the garden

and I’ll have a word to say

crisp and green under the moon

–

no need to play me again

the keys are moaning

and the prince is asking

me to clean the dirt

from my teeth

but I’ve been grandfathered in

and I’ve got a bone to show

on your white tablecloth

someone gave up the ghost

last March

–

the writer is choking on

cheap scotch

and with a finger

tell us she’s writing

a play about gun violence

and my pockets are so empty

I can only think

if I’ve missed my plane

–

he knows too much

has left the piano

with his handkerchief as a note

“I’ll be back”

but is that him in the corner

making love to

his digital wife

or is that him

pulling my lips

under the moon

or is that him

in the side room

acting like he belongs

or is that him

congratulating the prince

on his back night

–

I’ve got some theories

and they don’t involve me

for once

after all

it’s been five years since

my last heist

when I carried buckets of

bolts to lovers

saying

assemble

assemble me

–

I’m suggesting we end the night

but I’m easily bought