In the bar

amidst odors tough

for those with a

normal sense of smell

sat Clark

on his thirteenth

beer

not tipsy in the least

(never seen a guy

drink that much that

fast and stay on the

stool)

Playing the jukebox

best of the Eagles

volume 2

loud

(christ, is he deaf?)

Hasn’t read a paper

in a week

especially

the daily planet

At home

his television is on

ESPN

only sports

so he doesn’t have to see

the news

and hear about

bridges collapsing

super villains

on a rampage

children trapped

in drainage pipes

lost dogs

hostage situations

pipe bombs

road rage

approaching

comets

armed robberies

domestic violence

And the jukebox

plays George Jones

and the music

almost drowns out

the voice of Lois

calling now

calling

from the alligator’s jaws

or from whatever

the hell mess

she’s gotten herself

into this time

He belches

and the cash register

moves a full inch

(christ, did you see that?)

No one notices

he hasn’t shaved

for a week

He orders another

beer

and says

make it

something from

Germany

this time

He digs around

in his pocket

for another

pair of

quarters

The song’s

almost over