Closing Time

Face half hidden in darkness half revealed by the deep blue spot he speaks of love and moonlight through the mouthpiece of the horn past the valves and out the gleaming bell Piano player sets up pretty dominoes for the trumpet to softly knock down he knows his way around those ivory keys Side man on skins shuffles the deck with steel brushes marking off beats on a sheet that ain't never been wrote Bass man pulls the strings pours his sad, sad life into the music eyes closed rocking gently then back head nodding to rest his chin on each note Deep breathy sax drips honey in a minor key round notes roll like train cars on a midnight track keeping time with the heartbeat of the song playing overtime for a two dollar beer