The Village Well

weekly laundry chores

clothes in their dryers

crossing the parking lot

a visit to the village well

I sit at the corner

away from the regulars

watch the world rain by

for half an hour

Elaine is quick

and pours a dark draught

she's single as far as I can tell

with silver rings

on four out of five fingers

she smiles, says hello

looks like a young Ann-Margaret

seven televisions blink excess

two yokels play

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

they can't answer one question correctly

a red haired filly talks of Michael Jackson

his plastic nose

the baby railing episode

two yokels agree

with her opinions

and buy her a double

jukebox alive with Clapton

Noah Vail shooting pool

with Casey the drywall king

the drywall genius

can name the last four superbowl champions

Stan sits nearby

he fought in the Gulf War

tells how he aided in the surrender

of the opposition

in that sandy hell

two women

covered in tattoos

chatter about the President,

duct tape, two dollar a gallon gas,

and herpes

seems like a year has gone by

only been a half an hour

next Thursday

more of the same

laundry in the dryer

head to the well

feel a little higher

chasing the moments

away with the suds.