something else i wrote - "eight months from here"

there is a bar eight months from here
two smiling faces pressed side by side
and his not so great voice blared over a speaker
pathetic and strained but without her smile weaker

there is a toast to success but a fear of defeat
and an omen and a test to be taken and passed
and a lie and some truths and a fear never realized
and four lips that think not of "first" or "fifth" or "last"

and four eyes with two real brows and twelve tears
and a bell tolled for last call and just two more beers
and one last midnight stroll around the corner to two cars
just the end of another night in a city where you can't see stars

a goodbye devastating but kind of triumphant
her mouth whispers words that promise reunion
her two hands will his open door shut against his
turned ignition then fission then clear out of sight

eight months later there are flowers with her name on them
and he's dressed in his best because that's all he'll give her
there are flowers with her name but her hands can't accept them
and she her teeth still glow white but her lips cannot smile