Later They'll Drag the Lake

​

                    after “Watching the Detectives”
 

chappy kicks up a dustcloud
arriving at lakeside lodge

the noise drags Pops from his cot
to the rustic moonlit office

sure we got a cabin left yessir.
(hands him a tarnished key)

morning’s a sullen glance
from hardboiled waitress

hair à la Veronica Lake
shading an eye of knowledge

Maybe it is Veronica—how’d
she wind up in this dump

he wants a big glass of milk
she wants to blow this popcorn stand

thought she’d line up some lout
smokes rolled in his sleeve

pay with bruises but so what
goodbye greasy plates, rayon uniforms

maybe this one will do—
look at his big milky smile

she pictures biffing off
in his yellow roadster

sees herself driving away
fast, top down, alone

she eyes him from
behind her pale, pale hair

her nailfile flickering
her indifference