mmmccxc

The Night Was Young and We Were, Too
(and Also Perhaps Just a Smidge High)

He’s the cream
of the crop!
He’s the bees’
wriggly knees!

You are trying
to focus, trying
hard not
to sneeze.

He’s a tall
drink of wa
ter, now you’re
down on your knees.

By the time
that you trust
him, you’re so
far gone you’re blind,

and you’re licking
the sugar lumps
off the palms

of his hands.

By the time
he’s con
vinced you he’s
just aiming to please,

you just loll
about thinking
how you’ve 

got it made

in the shade,
and no less, dear,
you’re so madly
in love that 

it never quite
struck you
“He was wearing
some . . . gloves?”

It’ll take a few
long hours
’til you check
out the glass

for a headlamp

or two you 

might see

way out past

the darkened
horizon, but nope,
then repeat
that whole

process, are
there headlights?
is there anything?
Nope and nope!

And who knows
how long after
it might fin
ally dawn

on you that
your dear
sweetheart’s
not the sweetheart

that you “know,”

but a massive
disaster that you
let in the door.

By this time,
I think now
that the world,
but for you, sees,

he’s run off
with your wallet,
and he’s stolen
your keys.

But...

Don’t cry, little
darlin’, little
darlin’, no
tears.

Don’t cry, little
darlin’, little
darlin’, I’m
right here.