Milwaukee’s Eastside early 70’s by Mary Ray Goehring

          After Joe Walsh 

 

After we slept all day to be up all night

after a few High Lifes and doobies

we descend the concrete stairs 

underground to Humpin’ Hannah’s. 

After ordering more long necks

after whispers of a guest guitarist

after finding an empty table close to the stage

we settled in then choke on our beers amazed 

after they announce Joe Walsh

without the James Gang

jamming just 20 feet away.

After listening all night long 

his riffs tearing down the house

stripping our minds of coherent thought

After the roar of the now standing room 

only crowd after his last song

we pinch ourselves 

stumble up the stairs

ramble to a random pool joint

After our previous good luck

I slap my quarter on the rail

then step up to play the winner

After rolling my chosen cue across 

the green felt like I knew what I was doing

after chalking then waiting for the break

shot after shot finding the pocket

my companions as shocked as me

after sinking the eight ball on my last shot 

still basking in my string of dumb luck

even after the loss

I finish the night’s last High Life 

knowing life’s been good to me so far.

Mary Ray Goehring spends her time migrating between her prairie in Central Wisconsin

and the pine forests of East Texas.  She has been published in both print and online literary journals

and anthologies such as:   One Art:  a journal of poetry, The Path of Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy, Lothlorien Poetry Journal, Blue Heron Review, Bramble, Your Daily Poem, Highland Park Poetry and others.