New Year Concord

I used to fly the Concord Jet
from Paris to the States
drink Champagne at Mach 2
brush the Pearly Gates,
Once I flew on New Year’s Eve
I wish you’d been along
pieces of poetic verse
or lyrics to a song,

You in your slinky dress
the black one I adore
off to a New York Party
some Upper East-side bore,
Wine and cheese, and friends I know
the guest room canopy bed
topical conversation
no jet-lag in our head,

Mildly drunk, flirtatious each
strangers scan your shape
you wave your hands through the air
cast aside your cape,
Tell stories in fluid French
with a mix of Afrikaans
about the latest movie
you just saw in Cannes,

Then the waiter fills glasses full
Lang Syne, the pianist plays
we kiss friends and strangers
touching tongues in sensual ways,
Fifteen minutes later
like a snake shedding her skin
your black dress slides away
and the New Year slips in,