TERRA INCOGNITA by Michael N. Thompson

The day drunks inside this darkened barroom

resemble a scene from Trees Lounge

but like the George Jones song goes,

its “hotter than a two-dollar pistol” outside 

so this cold beer feels like heaven 

as it washes down my throat

A string of sad song country tunes

bleeds from the jukebox speakers

and I watch two old geezers argue 

with the fury of a thousand Republicans 

trying to abolish Roe versus Wade

about why the Giants aren’t in the World Series

There aren’t any pretty girls

to occupy my mind

but one who’s at least

twenty years my senior

slides into the stool next to mine

and tries to convince me

the romance of how it was

outweighs the romance of how it is

Two random strangers stand up

and begin to slow-dance

to a Tom waits song

while the rest of us

stare down at our drinks

wishing we had the guts 

Michael N. Thompson likes bacon, cats and fantasy football.  His poetry has appeared in numerous literary journals including Word Riot, Toronto Quarterly and San Pedro River Review. He is the author of four poetry collections, the most recent being A Murder Of Crows published by University of Hell Press. www.michaelnthompson.com