L Milton Hankins Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

["Local Dive" was first published in the Yearbook of Modern Poetry 1981, Young Publications, Knoxville, Tennessee, 1981.]

Local Dive

Davy's band plays weekend gigs
     at Carrie's club; 
Saturday nights the place
     is packed; from
Grease to glitter
     in one hour; 
     turning pro
Even though it's not up-town yet.
The crowd is slow and easy here; 
Hard stuff never sells as well as beer.
Davy draws the over-forties crowd
     with disco in three-quarter
     time; and slow dances, 
     and middle-aged clinging
Couples, wanting "Release Me" before
     midnight; and when the last
     set is over, 
The band tears down in debt, 
     exits through the rear.
Mondays, brass and skins are stacked
     in the maple crate
     on a beatup, borrowed truck
And Davy pumps gas at Larry's
     to make some bucks.

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Caren Krutsinger May 15, 2021 at 4:54 PM I swear I feel I am there. Great imagery. L Milton Hankins May 15, 2021 at 5:08 PM Ah, I remember those days. Glad you did, too. Davy's band wasn't the best, but they livened up the place!

Gershon Wolf May 11, 2021 at 6:09 PM Great reprise of a time back when... These guys would have been right at home in one of Bill Murray's 'Lizard Lounge' settings, eh?! Thanks for the memories, Milt. :) gw L Milton Hankins May 13, 2021 at 12:13 PM Yeah, Gershon. There was a time when some of the garage bands made it big, but not many times. Davy plays for love of music, obviously.

Sotto Poet May 11, 2021 at 10:35 AM Another Great gem to recall Milton, brimming with considerations and symbolism here and there hard to see them again in our era; similar to the social affair or the stuffed spots, the time has changed, yet implications still alive L Milton Hankins May 11, 2021 at 11:12 AM Thanks for your visit and your read, Lasaad. I always appreciate your comments.