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on the same day:

Journal of the Southwest Romance Corner

The black boa cleverly disguises
          the metal file cabinet
makes it think it's getting lucky
          tonight
alphabets don't slow me down
but empty love does
meticulous at the scorecard
          no,no,no,no           yes, but              no
perhaps a plant            to make things grow
          promises of earth and water
I want to say no to the leather-clad
          tool girl when she asks           if
                    this seat is taken
too tender for the night life
          not enough grit                    so I float
above                              a visitor from another
                                                 planet
reading a book of poetry through the smoke
blaring rock heavy beats, and
          all those dark eyes
                    not glamorous enough for
                    the call girls
not hard-enough for the             let-down
not risky enough for the                    lady with the
                                                  spine tattoo
not sporty enough for the   jocks with proper English
          not quick enough for the
                    bartender wit
not desperate enough
          for the lonely

                              not hip enough for the            triple
                                        pierced urbaness
not rich enough for the gold dog

          the poetry in my hands more
          apropos to this life than me
          the been-there poet
                    who fixes leaks and stairs

if he could be my body guard
I'd have another drink