MEAGAN BROTHERS

TIMES SQUARE

later we walked home in the rain
I thought I would see you
in that hotel near Times Square.
I took the train north,
then south,
wishing for a sea change
for aeroplanes
for hot whiskey and a cigarette.
I fell asleep on the way home
my face against the cold glass
thinking about travel
the measure of a good woman
the pistols I inherited and
the streets I disowned.

Let's not talk about
drugs, violence, sex, our past lives,
all the things people in magazines expect.
Let's pack our bags.
I won't make any promises -
you know how I'm built.
You know the lies love tells
and the truth is my hands,
these words.

Your smile is secret as a hearse,
projected huge across the skyline.
Let those other fools be passengers
let's fake our deaths
let's be diplomats without flags
let the tongues wag
let me be your dry place
when the sky is crowded with rain.
 

Meagan Brothers lives in Asbury Park, NJ, and plays lead guitar for the Steel Pier Sinners. Which might sound pretty exciting, but in actuality she's probably just sitting around the house right now, reading back issues of Creem and listening to Marianne Faithfull records.

More of Meagan's work may be found at Poetz2002 and Poetz 2000.