You said you would be there, and

you appeared to teach and be taut.

bar at midnight, graceful presence/with the present,

you’ve heard tell you could not be resonant.

be correct in yourself.

be at a loss for words.

be silent and still and

listen.

when the man speaks he has something to say.

the initials of a Caesar who has long gone.

Surrounded by angels of hell himself.

the drink sits at the tip of his tongue.

the man speaks from experience:

it’s all he has,

all any of us have.