off sunset blvd
Jay behind the bar was a good keeper
when you’d trip thru the blue door
into his low-watt dreams
and neon hangovers
he’d flash his dandy smile
and wipe the glass clean
for the next round of beer
and shots of tequila
for you
and for Al, the drunk lawyer
who dropped by each day
in between depositions of life’s excuses

Jay, the soul keeper
set up the chasers
for you
and for Dan, the aging out-of-work actor
who bet on his dimples and sexy cleft chin
to charm his way into your reason
as to why the blue door

and Jay kept the peanuts
filled up to the top
over in the corner
of the make-shift cabana
where we all made love
to the blackballed pool table
and swayed the wishful night moves
round the lonesome jukebox

and we were all welcome
come hell or high water
thru the blue door
but Jay the bar keeper
kept a stool just for Lizzy
who smelled of Chanel
poured over the street
and whose legs were long
and dim witted smile was sweet
when she stood
inside the blue door

so Lizzy would laugh
with the world at the top
of a red leather stool
that kept her love spinning
and they'd slip thru the door
of untapped delusion stacked in crates
at the back of the cabana
to lick Lizzy's delight
because Al, the drunk lawyer
and Dan, the matinee idol
along with the hungry cue sticks
all pooled their money together
and Jay added a tip
for Lizzy’s health and welfare
that she bought on the street

come again Lizzy

come 2 am
he'd wipe down the counter
dumped the left over peanuts
back in jar
to be eaten tomorrow
because the image in the mirror
turning off all the lights
caught Jay’s eye
and gave him a wink
but there was no cleft in his chin
as he locked the blue door
at the far end of sunset blvd


jeanne rene 1/04