Cotillion


Tonight I am a man
tap-dancing the train tracks

red light—red—
while the 10:50 nears,

sweet horn blowing.
I jitterbug,

Charleston bound—
take down

the tarnished stars, my breath
will shine them up new.

Tonight I want a tongue
stuck to the wintry track

& swear when that freight train comes
I’ll yank my thick head back.

Tonight I’ll grab hold
the striped arm

of the crossing bar—
let it dance me

round real slow.

Tonight I tango
alone.

from Jelly Roll: A Blues, Knopf, 2003.