blues for Janus

by Jack T. Marlowe

a bare bulb
lends its im-
poverished
light to the
work of

ragged
hands on
the grave-
yard shift
mostly
avoiding
the shift
key, they

type an
epitaph
for yet
another
year
that has
passed

the usual
medley of
nods and
curses
sepa-
rated by
sighs
in lieu of
commas

a paper to
file away
and a new
year to
face, they

pop the
cork of
another
bottle
pouring
just
enough

a new
glass
half full
of mis-
givings

meat market blues

by Jack T. Marlowe

Bar Girl sizes up
the night's
poor prospects

urchin eyes
and mercenary
smile freshly
painted

for the
parade of
mannequins
who approach

the march of
hollow warriors
armed with
potpourri of
rancid cologne
desperation
and denial

some

looking
for love or
distraction

most

looking
for a hot, wet
remedy
for
a malady
of the soul

"all men are
just interested
in one thing"
Bar Girl
complains

while
dispensing
generous eyefuls
of cleavage
and leg