Juke box belts out Elvis and Frankie,
din of chatter, clatter of dishes,
steak, beer, whiskey chaser.

Fumes in nostrils
distill memories
rooted to this place:
 family on birthday high,
 gang leader gone old,
 tears out of nowhere,
 friendship on ice.

In a whiskey moment,
years implode.

April 10, 1998