Ice clicking in highball glasses
Plays melodies of tinkling addiction
As the plainsong of conversation clusters
Provides the bass beat of
Trivial gossip strings.
An occasional trill of laughter
Adds modulation to
Movements of topical discussion;
Notes of forced conviviality are
Accompanied by the arpeggio
Of last night’s talk show jokes;
The drunk’s bugling voice reverberates
Through the kitchen ensemble’s retreat,
While his wife’s a cappella response
Echoes in dissonance.
Dressed in her black and white best,
The hostess is the maestro,
Keeping this symphony of
Sycophants in harmonious syncopation.
Cigarette in hand
She directs the party’s polyphony
Through the crescendo
To the final chord,
Taking her bow
To the kudos
Of the departing guests.