Neon

i watch her lips
purse around the top end of a cocktail straw
sucking up the last drops of a Canadian Club and diet

setting the glass arm's length away
she lets the bartender see we need some attention

the jukebox
loaded with my ones
plays a long line of sad bastard songs

she makes the mistake of trying to keep up with me
ordering doubles

i make the mistake of peering into the mirror behind the bar
and believing what i see

foolish because
in this light
i always look like i'm winning