WALKING UNDER A MOON.

MAN AND DRUNK WOMAN IN A STREET UNDER A MOON.

He was with her
when they came back
from the bar

the moon was out
but dark clouds
hid it now and then

and she walked
with a sway
singing bars
from some song
she liked

and he watched her
walking just behind
looking at her
looking about him
the streets
the street lights
yellow upon black
bright lights

and she said
this is it
this is what I like
being merry
being liberated
from my normal self

and he said
ok let’s get back home
take it easy
don’t what you falling
and breaking bones

she paused on the edge
of the kerb
and looked at the moon
look at that moon
I guess people in Russia
see the self same moon
as we do
looking up
and seeing the same
bright light
the same pits
on the moon’s skin

he said
come on Honey
lets’ get back
and he put his arm
through hers
and tried to move her on

hey hey
she said  
don’t pull me along
I want to see the moon

so he stopped pulling her
and walked on
and looked back
at her staring
at the moon
her voice singing
her body swaying

he walked on
hands in the pockets
of his coat
head down

wait
she called
wait for me
I don’t want
to be swallowed
by the night

and he stopped
and she ran to him
and put her arms
around him
and kissed his lips
and he could taste
the booze
the cigarettes

and he said
come on Babe
let’s go

and so she walked on
beside him
her body leaning
against him
her voice humming
a melody
her feet picking
places to tread

his lips having
the taste of her
on them
the feel of her
on his arm

her voice
humming still
echoing into the night  
hoping she’d be good
once home
hoping she’d stay awake
not fall asleep
but if she did
he thought
the sex would keep.