CEMETERY OF LONGSHOTS by Michael N. Thompson

The bar I used to sneak in to

back in high school

hasn’t changed much

after twenty years

A few familiar faces

are scattered like leaves

inside the old girl

I appear to be the only one

who made it out of a town

more passive aggressive

than a stubborn mother-in-law

Chuck Meredith waves me over to his table

and the odds of him not being belligerent

are about as likely as fresh air

inside a euthanasia box 

He was the star quarterback

everyone thought would make it big

but he blew out his knee

during his freshman year 

at an out of state college

Bitching about the government,

Chuck proudly declares

he’s installed a dozen cameras

for when they come for his guns

but nobody’s at the door

Cadillac dreams are futile

when all you have 

is a beat-up Buick

and hope never floats

in a leaky boat

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