October in Octave 2.0
October 2020 update- 10/18 -When the past blows in-
New work 8/20
Wrong Number
(for Phil by way of da wheel)
So I’m walking into a bar on E 7th
In 1956 right after the Dodgers beat Yanks in the last World Series
That Winter February afternoon
And Spring Training was right around the corner
And all ready there was talk about them moving to LA
Nobody reading the papers was buying it-
A loud mouth regular puts it this way-
No way the Giants skip town- that’s just Stoneham putting the pressure
On the city to build him a new stadium so they can ditch that Polo Grounds dump-
I order a tall boy of High Life in bottle and a
Shot of Dewers neat
And slap a buck and half on the countertop
Getting couple of nickels for change
Head for the jukebox
While watching that new TV set that’s showing up in most places lately
Blurry black and white with the sound muted usually
While that same know it all regular pronounces – TV stinks- look at that tiny screen-
It’s just a fad- never will catch on-
Me ? rather go to the movies
As my numbers come up on the jukebox playing
Bill Hailey and the Comets- See you later Alligator
And while lighting up a Camel Straight
Wondering who was that Dish in the phone booth
Laughing out loud down the end of the bar
While smiling over here
While I wait for her to get off the horn
There’s bar stool next to me with a purse and a Pink Squirrel
With a battered pack of Viceroy
Thinking-
I’m not going anywhere-
After hanging up the receiver she sashays towards me
In a red & white polka dot hoop skirt and her high heels
Clicking 2 inch stiletto heels on the linoleum
Sitting down on the adjacent bar stool
She snaps some gum with crackle
Sizes me up and down and says-
So what are you looking at ? Creep.
VQ 7/30/2020
