Corner of the Bar
you could call me translucent
will say hello if spoken to
will share notebooks if you’re curious
mostly just utter
yes
another beer
please
thank you
mostly just watch
people shooting pool
people karaokeing
people drinking shots
people coming in
with other people
i almost invited a friend
kinda didn’t want
to risk what solitude offers
I love pens, poetry
collecting ideas from laughter
from eavesdropping stories
from the words of others
read from the phone
still
to share these hours with another special other
could be my eluding fulfillment
paper is longevity
you could be escape
or more
than anything else in my world
or so I dream
from statue station
amid the bliss
of stardom strangers
this night is everything it needs to be
if not everything it could be
contentment is a state of mind
of existence
i will appreciate all that life gives
even as i clamor for more
10 thoughts on "Corner of the Bar"
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Been in that seat and this really captures that mindset, Philip. I like how your poem plays with the seeming contradiction of finding solitude acceptable but also the yearning for connection. I like the unsettled ending, still clamoring for more.
It was at least the kind of night I was looking for. Just wanted to go somewhere chill and read. Glad I was able to catch this poem too, and that you enjoyed it.
I love the line that sets up the final stanza: the night is everything it needs to be/if not everything it could be
Might have been more if I had even the slightest bit of an extrovert in me! Thank you for the comment.
I really like the staggered layout of this poem. It flows really nicely. Nicely captures the sensation of people-watching.
Whenever I play with the layout of a poem, it’s always nice to hear a reader appreciates it. Thank you for the feedback!
This so fully evokes the feeling of being in that room and the mind moving in and out of that space.
I must have appeared so dreadfully antisocial, sitting where I was for hours reading poetry on here. Thank you for the comment!
I do love writing in places with a lot going on around me. The Lexington writers room is a place I’m particularly fond of as there are many books, works of art, and other creative minds there as well. But a nice park bench or coffee shop is great too! Like Jason mentioned it was fun going in your mind and then being projected back out into the room.
I’ll have to check that place out sometime. Since I started working night shift last year, it’s been difficult to go beyond my familiar places. There’s always a chance I’ll start nodding off! Thank you for your thoughts!