oh louie louie

I could never bowl.
neither ten pins, or ducks.
could never get my feet right,
the rhythm down.
I didn't like the taste of beer
or French fries.
back then
everyone smoked.
threw a ball with a camel
hanging out of their
mouth.
those silky shirts,
joe's pizza stitched fancily
on the back.
star cleaners.
lube brothers and pop's
ice cream.
those shoes with the number
on the back.
a flimsy felt.
worn a million times,
smelling of
Lysol.
but I liked the juke box
playing
dusty springfield
and james brown,
the four tops and louie
louie, trying hard
to figure out the words.