the party

it's only a good party

if the cops

come a few times to tell you

to keep it down.

if everything there is to eat

or drink

is gone.

if someone is asleep on

the couch,

if someone gets caught

making love

in the spare bedroom.

something has to break too,

a glass,

a dish, a window. 

there are spills on the rug.

dancing

must spontaneously

ensue. there's loud

out of tune singing.

laughter.

the neighbors have to

bang on the wall.

the trash can has to over flow.

it's midnight, it's one

a.m.

it's three in the morning.

it's time now for everyone

to go.

we'll clean this up in the morning,

sweetheart.