The Bar Was Quiet Tonight

He came in
with his jaw wired shut,
having opened it
to the wrong dude
but with a well-placed straw
his courage was sucked up,
as foam dripped from the edges
of a forced grimace.
 
Now, for once,
I didn't mind his company
as he slurped his way
and I gulped my way
into that zone of cross-eyed
bliss.
 
"Can I get you a burger?"
 
I forgot, until the squint
came my way.
 
"Did I tell you of the time
I fried a mouse in the toaster,
damn thing fell in
as I was browning breakfast."
 
Nothing... and my payback
for past years of drivel, I endured,
was making this a great night.
 
"See that woman over there, told me
she would love to kiss you, likes
your quiet style."
 
Squint.
 
Tonight, I enjoyed the music,
too many nights having only noise
sink in when things didn't go
my way but his jaw was wired
and the man upstairs
must have known.
 
Indeed, he was working
in mysterious ways.
 
I left him there
as that stainless wire filled with tobacco bits,
making my way back to where
those lyrics could be heard.
 
We weren't much different
as I thought about it, 
he was just a bit quieter tonight.
 
I almost wished
he could have spoken.

On Monday, October 31, 2022 at 8:26:34 PM UTC, blackpo...@aol.com wrote:
> The Bar Was Quiet Tonight
>
> He came in
> with his jaw wired shut,
> having opened it
> to the wrong dude
> but with a well-placed straw
> his courage was sucked up,
> as foam dripped from the edges
> of a forced grimace.

That shows true dedication to being at a bar!
>
> Now, for once,
> I didn't mind his company
> as he slurped his way
> and I gulped my way
> into that zone of cross-eyed
> bliss.

Until a last call and the lights come on, breaking the spell of macho invulnerability.
>
> "Can I get you a burger?"
>
> I forgot, until the squint
> came my way.

Burger in a blender. The bartender has seen it all.
>
> "Did I tell you of the time
> I fried a mouse in the toaster,
> damn thing fell in
> as I was browning breakfast."

The speaker needs an exterminator. No woman would go back to that apartment.

>
> Nothing... and my payback
> for past years of drivel, I endured,
> was making this a great night.

Revenge, thy name is enforced silence.
>
> "See that woman over there, told me
> she would love to kiss you, likes
> your quiet style."
>
> Squint.

She's probably wondering if it is too late to go to another bar.
>
> Tonight, I enjoyed the music,
> too many nights having only noise
> sink in when things didn't go
> my way but his jaw was wired
> and the man upstairs
> must have known.

Time wires all blabbermouths.
>
> Indeed, he was working
> in mysterious ways.
God was bought 3 drinks one evening.
>
> I left him there
> as that stainless wire filled with tobacco bits,
> making my way back to where
> those lyrics could be heard.
Working the room?
>
> We weren't much different
> as I thought about it,
> he was just a bit quieter tonight.

Bar buddies are soon parted by real women.
>
> I almost wished
> he could have spoken.
He would have said, "Where are you going? Are you coming back?"