a black bird against the blue ceiling

i was

watching Bill and Nancy

dance

while i drank

my beer

and nibbled on peanuts

at the Knights

of Columbus Hall.

it was back

when you could smoke

anywhere,

and everyone did.

young and old,

men and women.

i finished the peanuts

then

the waitress brought me

a club sandwich.

i ate it,

putting mayonnaise

on my lips

and on my jacket.

Bill and Nancy were still

dancing,

third song in a row.

i wished i could dance

like that.

after i finished my sandwich,

i ordered

another beer,

then lit up

a cigarette,

and blew smoke rings

up into the blue ceiling,

where a single

black bird

was flying around.