Boogie

Two notes and the chorus
were already in the skin of those two
her body sent out African heat
he looked like a crocodile
saxes pushed hard
like cyclists breaking away
and the song kept going
sinking deeper into the air.

Those two kept it up
from her rose the scent of colonial days that reached him like one of those
old-time drugstores
that kept the door open
in front of spring.

Boogie Woogie
Boogie Woogie

Someone nearby started
to sneeze
the fan buzzed loudly
from the exhausted ceiling
saxes hypnotized
by her movements spread
sounds of rubber and paint
from him leather.

The lights flashed on the Chinese
face of the cashier smoking menthol
others sneezed innocently
and the song flowed elegantly
the orchestra had started, taking off.

Boogie Woogie
Boogie Woogie

The musicians one with the ceiling
and the floor
only the drummer in the shadows
watched with nasty looks
those two danced well
a new cashier replaced the first
this one had wolf-like eyes
and chewed on licorice candy.

That music kept going
it was a song that said and didn’t say
the orchestra swayed
like a palm tree before a revered sea
those two knew by heart
where they wanted to go.

Boogie Woogie
Boogie Woogie

A fifth character
hesitated before sneezing
then retreated into nothingness
it was an adult world
mistakes made by professionals.

Boogie Woogie
Boogie Woogie