i politician-smiled
at too many people tonight:

the forty-something lady
who couldn't butter her sarcasm

the vietnam vet
with one arm

the alcoholic english teacher
who looked a little more than tipsy

the dwarfish gent
who made me laugh

the man with boozey eyes
who told me stories of ohio winters

the indian neighbor
who worked at nasa
and snapped pictures like a playboy photographer

his fat wife
who invited me over

i was obliged to decline,
partly because i was drunk
and planned to get drunker,
but mostly because
i was tired of seeing picture-esque stranger smiles
and perfect white
teeth.

05/16/2011

Author's Note: A family party I attended in Ohio, full of people I met for the first time.

Posted on 05/18/2011
Copyright © 2024 Cole Atkinson