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Drinks@the Last Cafe Final Chapter

Drinks @ the Last Cafe

VIII

The Drummer was not as kind to the preacher  
shot him mid-jig
damn evangelical,
thinks one rhythm works for all songs
 
In San Francisco there is gold.
In San Francisco there is stripped copper wire.
In San Francisco ship masts litter the bay Goblins call, chatter and unload boats
mangoes, green nail polish, knives.
 
bars served stale chips or raisins
beer from bread
@ the Westin Hotel and Cabaret
an Official joined them
for a crease of yellow foil
told them new stories.  
Sam knew in beer there would be truth.
 
There was no elegant solution
the Official admitted
they sent me out here right before.
Goblins?  The girl asked.
the Official grimaced,
a practiced gesture
a Goblin can be anyone different.  
 
But you, the Official looked at the girl
I’ve heard about you.  
 
They all flocked to get close  
a mermaid singing each to each
she sang to them.
 
The crowd chanted
knowing she could break open their world
Howling through the night
on the corner of Columbus and Fillmore
jugs of wine passed through the crowd
 
The Drummer sidled up to Sam
she’s going to need a name  
important for her act
Sam nodded
the Drummer fixed on the girl
 
The battered hat,
the ragged edges of her pink tutu thin as a memory
the girl looked better – eyes shining
I’ll tell you about the great mother –  
you sit on her skin
you need to caress her more often
stop hitting
here is the story of the three-hour cruise
how many of us start –
believing we have only three hours
and it turns into
the girl lifted her hands –
a natural gesture –
the crowd roars.
A lifetime?
she welcomes tribute in size 8 shoes   
 
I know how it ends. 
Sam patted the Drummer’s arm
turning to the exit sign
the EX burned out
 
I never thought
I’d see how it begins.
 
The final chapter of Drinks @ the Last Cafe.!
 
You can get a complimentary copy of the entire poem by leaving a helpful review for my new book, Deep Trouble
 
Notify me when you’ve posted the review – cbramkamp (at) gmail (dot) com and I will send you the ebook version along with my sincere thanks.
 
Thank you!

CatharineBramkamp

Catharine Bramkamp is a successful writing coach and author. She has published over 300 newspaper and magazine articles in publications like Modern Maturity (AARP), SF Chronicle and Santa Rosa Magazine. She was a contributor to two Chicken Soup Books and has published anthologies of her work, non-fiction works and novels. Her work has also appeared in a number of poetry and fiction anthologies. She has experimented with the self-publishing world since 2001. She has published and self-published seven books through companies like Author House, author assist companies like 3L Publishing and through traditional publishers like Write Life. Her poetry collection, Ammonia Sunrise, will be released in August 2011 by Finishing Line Press and her mystery novel, In Good Faith will be released by Write Life in 2011. Catharine holds a BA in English from UCSB and a MA in English from Sonoma State University. She is a 25 year member of California Writer’s Club. She is an adjunct professor for the University of Phoenix. She works with authors of both fiction and non-fiction to make their dream of producing a book come true. For more information on that, visit her at www.YourBookStartsHere.com Catharine has lived in Sonoma County for 25 years and considers wine a food group. She is married to an adorable and very patient man who complains he’s never featured in any of her books. Her grown children who are featured in a few of her books have fled the county.

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