i left my smile at the door with the cover charge i don't recall the music apparently it wasn't jazz intending nothing but thoughts within this large life but there sat a little man with tall hair, by a space of one seat. a student likely, perhaps a student wading through courses flowing towards more money than necessary and money pressing more desirable than his deeper ambitions which he would assume if he only had the spine for it. he drinks therefore to feel poetic to wallow in words with meaning even if they are of anger even if he finds articulation in rattling ice in an empty glass there is solace in the point of having none other. in his avocado green fly collar zippered shirt he is intentional, his hair, his slouch, his cigarette held continually between this thumb and that finger… and his fear and his shame that haunts him to his breath. for long moments he moved only to breath. He turned his attention round and flattened it with a look into nowhere ebb tide. young avocado poe might possibly know little more than this… his life always returning him to this. as is. a reflection distorted by various brands of liquor what brings change? from the elements at hand what mixture offers absolution uninvited but nevertheless my sympathy and my disgust enter an observation more for me than toward him. will he become a predator. is he. would i this form before me, would he ever feed upon the soul of himself seldom to sense the membranes and muscle of his disease tearing from his dying man who is killing his living man. behind me then to my right toward a space of one seat stepped a big breasted girl with a baited black bra strap boosting up her identity hoping for more but associating love with less conversations and someone who will acknowledge her life. avocado poe meet slump shoulder sadie a girl who knows too little and a man who assumes his future is his present and knows enough that he will not change it. she whispers. she giggles. he fumbles with a matchbox pretending she's not there hoping she won't leave she's persistent. he pretends to weaken they enter into dialogue she hands him the broom to sweep her off her feet. can they love? can they pronounce it beyond a dance and 2 minutes do they fit. will on save the other or will they destroy themselves while laughing will he escape from him. will she be loved in a baggy sweater. and still the music was nowhere but the news was repeating itself… as it repeated itself yesterday as it will tomorrow as it plays out more than we need to know because we're learning less of what we need to know. without my interpretation poe and sadie moved past to a table in front of a window on the street, creatures enclosed for display but they saw no one and no one actually looked at them anonymous un-lovers sorting through this patchwork of life. i stopped considering their lives with a simple napkin scribble staring straight stirring ice assumed his trouble required some vice… it isn't fair to read into their lives while they'll never consider me they wouldn't recognize themselves if i dropped them a not would i recognize anothers perception. i have an inkling on no idea…. did i steal from them?… how can i steal what they never owned… Did i use them? i'm not sure if the shirt was actually avocado did i find those thoughts i set out to find? what did i leave with? i left one dollar and moved on. smiling. and prayed a quick prayer as i noticed them through the window. he smiled sort of.