Sugartown

The sign on the wall says
    don't pinch
    no colors
    one beer minimum
    reserve the right, etc.

The women look spaced
and hard, cliched.
The same old poses
pass for dance,
but It's still two bucks here
for a beer.

Through the sweat
and persuasion
and the hole in the door,
I see the old cook
smoking Camels,
flipping a burger,
just hangin out back there.

 His smile knows, says
boy, I hope you don't
bring nothin' home
and catch it.