Tempo

People talking at the entrance to a dance
and to their side is a girl,
dressed just as nice,
drinking wine from a bottle, on the curb,
because chatting is boring.

Billiard players missing all their shots,
leaning back in their chairs
with their forearms pressed against
their foreheads, not knowing
what it is they need to fix.

Bartenders telling nothing but lies,
that everyone takes as truth
even if they see through it.
The occasional free shot
a dark bribe to keep all the secrets.

Dancing women pulling on the ties
of men they do not know,
but are almost sure they want to.
Their hand bags holding hand guns
just in case.

The band, plays far too fast to think,
pushing the whole floor to the brink,
but that’s exactly why
they like this kind of music.