further further work on After the movie

discussing with MZ how close this poem mirrors the inspiring poem.  one idea he had was to acknowledge that in the poem.  so here is my attempt at doing that.

After The Movie

(After Marie Howe’s After The Movie)

My friend Michael & I cross King Street West, dodging traffic, arguing 

about the movie. He says he believes success & happiness are tied—

you can only have one if you have the other.

I say, No they don’t have anything to do with each other, 

that’s like saying shoes are necessary to have a coat. 

He says  But that is true, no point having a coat 

to go outside if you don’t have shoes.  There’ll come a day

you’ll stay inside for good if you don’t have both. 

I say,  That sounds like you had happiness before that day. 

He says, You might have thought you were happy but 

then you realized you were unsuccessful.  

I say, What you mean by happiness sounds more like 

a business arrangement. I say, Happiness isn’t conditional.

He says, It’s conditional on what it takes to be happy.  

We’re now standing in front of the Snooty Fox— the old Westdale Theatre’s marquee 

blinking half on & mostly off across the street— & I hear my voice 

saying what I say to myself all the time— 

Most everyone’s life is pretty well mediocre at best & really

should anyone ask for more?

Michael takes hold of my elbow.  

Yes, he says, They can & fucking well should.

Inside we order Barking Squirrels from our bartender, burly & bearded.

The beer is dark, rich burnt orange. I sip it like I have never seen beer before. 

Hey, I say,  Didn't this conversation feel kind of like
we’re in the Marie Howe poem, After the Movie?

I was just thinking that, says Michael, Though this
sure isn’t New York City  and you
aren’t nearly as smart as the speaker in that poem.

Funny, I say, I was just thinking how you aren’t nearly as smart as her Michael.

We both sip our beer. 

What are you up to tomorrow? says Michael. 

But what I think he is saying is—“You are a failure, you should stay in your house forever.”

Then I think “Does he know I want to remain bewildered?”

The noise level is rising, laughter coming 

from somewhere, glasses clinking somewhere. Although we just got to the bar

we both have been here a very long time. 

I say, Try not to be a man of success said Einstein.  

Michael says, Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre said Camus.  

Our bartender jumps in, Stupidity lies in wanting to draw conclusions said Flaubert.

Outside the marquee still blinks no-blinks, blurred red tail lights pass by 

on King St West, I know down the side street

my perfectly squat house sits perfectly 

darkly quiet, at the end of that street is the trail 

into the woods where the nocturnal beasts wander.