Missy's Heart

Missy's Heart

"14 days of booze and floozies.."
"Getting settled in Down South, I see?"

Missy's in town
all the way from N-O-L-A
In the motor lodge across from
Sandy's café.

She smiles too much
to be for real
give her a dub
for a little feel.
A few more miles to Alabama
I drop another dollar
in the well.

Missy smiles out the window of her room
at the Heart of Columbus Motel.

She asks
where I want to put it.
Magnolia springtime
smoky haze
"Attendez-vous, s'il vous plait."
The carnival's back in town
although we've both
seen better days.

Homebrew molasses
watch her hands
fresh off a bus
from New Orleans
just about Midnight.

A few more miles to Alabama,
another drop of water
in the well.
Missy smiles
out the window of her room
at the Heart of Columbus Motel.

My friend Stan
cancels the plan
he's lost his heart.

And lost his taste
sniffs the cinnamon
endures the noisy morning.

Darkwood dances
under a grey muddled sky.
Stan limply flicks
honey stones
to his sweet muse.

A few more miles to Alabama,
another drop
closer to Hell.
Missy smiles out
the window of her room
at the Heart of Columbus Motel.

Hot silver stem
she smokes her curiosities
tumbling monkey shines.

China girl sings a TV jingle
blue eyed chattering
humming on his head.

One more dip
in her kissing booth
one more ring of roses across her bed.

A few more miles to Alabama,
another drop in the well.
Missy smiles
out the window of her room
at the Heart of Columbus Motel.

-Will Dockery