Open Mic Poem

The Open Mic

the way he plays guitar
shows promise
talent
practice
ferocity
and sensitivity
and who knows
what else it shows
he is a little weird
why do I like that so much?
I like deviation from the norm
I like intelligent deviants
he is so much way cuter
then before he became
clear
although I thought he was cute then too
always enjoying a bony nose
it just didn't connect
in the eyes before
so I lost interest
floating by
on my Suzi way
but tonight
I did get the eyes
and they shined for a moment
and he did a little hiney shake dance
like Josh used to do sometimes
and I noticed the curve of his body
when he moved just right
and his shirt lifted up a bit
and I got a glimmer of belly and hip
which made me gasp a little

it's her first time
she reads fast
needs to just get through it
this her first time
she has so much beauty in her
she does not wish to express it with her body
she expresses soley
from within
he cloths are plain as plain can be
natural colored cotton
and loose fitting pants
her hair is simply gone
unhair
no makeup
no jewelry
except maybe a dull stud
just plain old me
pouring my heart out
to an odd combination croud
of open mic funkies
and local drinkers
which must be scary
the scene of it from my perspective
leaning on a pole
drinking my cold wonderful beer
she,
standing in the little corner
in this smoky dive
this woman who says so much
just by simply not trying to say anything
with adornments
lots of people were talking and doing their thing
all around
and even though she was reading poetry
for me
the experience was more visual
I couldn't take my eyes off her
I moved forward and try to hear her
she genuinely and very gracefully
appreciated our clapping
and I knew then
I had made a friend

the MC
who we call Markie
goofy and sweet
talented and smart
guy next door
who everybody loves
pulls it all together
draws us back in
if we lose attention span
and plays to the crowd
you never know what might happen
and he is down for anything

my girls leave
and I dance with Peter
and life is good
and I go home full and happy
because I often fall in love
at the open mic.