a rainy derby day
gives way
to an electric louisville evening
in the kingdom of kentucky
it’s gentlemen and princes called to court
the infield now muddy and trampled
by all the pretty horses
rose petals, dreams, and shattered illusions
of a southern sort
the race now over
the orb risen
she dances center stage for them
spot lit sparkling
hat pulled over her left eye
a fedora given to her by the devil himself
the sway of her hips
deciding the drummer’s beat
and the fascination of the crowd
when her number is over
she is approached by the coat check girl
the carrier pigeon sent
with a message in her padded palm
by the back corner booth occupant
of the barely green lamp lit
mahogany bar
she opens the black napkin
reading the words written in his
silver glowing spectral ink
“If I come any closer,
I will fall in love with you, my darling,
and believe me, you do not want that.
So here I will remain,
watching you through my curtain of smoke
each night
as this is the gentlest devotion
I have to offer…”
she swears for a moment
she felt a hand raise the back of her red dress
turning her eyes
to the void
she blows a kiss
then bows to the dead sea of seated sinners
filling the darkness and tables
saturday night
in the mint julep