Let Me Practice Walking First

hot enough to split rocks
though, that July’s breeze was nice
so you were serious, London Dock and lemonade
because some dude at the dive bar last night said it was good
became our drink of the summer didn’t it

we couldn’t be content with just that
we had to get brave as the sun burned us
you really because of your anti-sun skin
looked cool we did in those shades from across the street
some dollar store

traffic raced by, people came and went,
the garbage truck pulled up
beeped for a bit and pulled away
after that the Russian family got home

the dad always wore soccer gear
the kid always went in first
the mom came from the front page of a beauty magazine
only no one ever told her that
because the soccer dad was a piece of shit

where were we
hey, turn that song up
one more before we go
up to you, no you

and then it came to you
I was shocked and laughed
but made it happen
now what

well…shall we, it’s there and you’re the expert
and we found a flame and inhaled
then again and again and again
when does it happen

one call
fifteen minutes later
it happens
and we lose each other in the same seat
in an orange cab and its glass windows
flat foreheads
watching freshly painted street lines run away from us
as we went downtown for the third time in a row

$5.90 later and we’re stumbling
mumbling
and laughing
pink-faced and red-eyed
do I look as bad as you
you’re lucky we’re friends

swimming around and around in a fishbowl
making bubbles but no sense
all I could say was are you ready yet
all you could say was
let me practice walking first…
and then it was morning