Bars Lines From The Bar

By Hans Ostrom

He lived over a bar,
made friends with bass guitars
that pierced his floor
with fat-note nails.

Hearing mostly the bass
lines of songs, he imagined
his own lyrics. One night–
oh, yes he promises himself–

he’ll go down there, sip
a whiskey, and wait for her:
the one who must be there,
dark eyes, brown skin. Or

blond hair and green eyes–
she could be anyone but will be
just the one–warm, quick, lovely:
well, that’s what his lyrics say.

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