October 1923
The stainless steel stars
sparkled beyond the trees
which were pastel sails in the wind.
He stalked into the cool club
and the mute cry baby horns delighted
the hip moon and the mirror
revealed his perfect part
as he caught her eye in the corner.
A Chablis drinking brushstroke blonde
caught his eye and went big boy to his hey doll
and the wedding was lovely after all
and when the market crashed
she got a dust bowl dress of faded roses
while squatting with a stick
he drew his future in the dust
which the wind blew away.
But she planted a Victory Garden
and he carried a flashlight
down the boardwalk and knocked
on lighted doors when submarines
were off Asbury
and the Commies were in movies
and government and Jew Commies and Queer Commies
and Big Shot Commies were out of work
and now the Goddamn kids were Commies too
and things made less sense
than Rock and Roll diction
and the services were lovely after all
just the way he'd a wanted it.