Window

Ashtrays overflowing with ashes and butts
Water-rings and burn-marks upon the bar
Empties and partials litter its top
Along with cigarette packs
     elbows and condiment jars
Tables and barstools, booths, jukebox that plays
     blues, country and rock
Walls filled with plaques and bar-lights
     a clock
In the shape of a bottle of beer
Over there a pool table. Behind the bar
     is a mirror
Smudged and dirty. Smoke in the air
     from cigarettes, tobacco not pot
This place’s cool, you don’t want to get caught
     doing that here
Or they’ll lose their license and you wouldn’t want that
     or you’d have no place to hang
And meet with the others who frequent this place
Faces open and shut
     happy and sour
Lost in their thoughts. Conversation and gossip,
     over there an argument
Range from a whisper right up to a shout. People
Just trying to forget
     their problems
For a while, a chance to talk and relax
     to laugh and to smile with
Good friend or stranger, anyone at all
For a while to linger
     and reach through the wall