In a band
on the road
Playing good gigs
and crappy ones
Riding in the van
the van the van the van
Listening to baseball
Watching Kansas.
 
Bandmates
pals
collaborators
irritators
making up a song backstage in Baton Rouge.
 
There’s the end of the road
a girl, a baby, a good man
Rent.
Day-o day-o day-o job.     
 
Strollers, diapers, board books, goddamn sippy cups
Ridiculous love for small person       
      Backpacks, lunches, invention of Family Culture
(us not them)
More songs. Fewer gigs.
 
Parents getting older and older and older and older
 
Lover, partner, hello?                
 
I hear stories    
at the park
on the phone
pieced together online
Godawful sadnesses
Some, fewer, moments of joyous celebration.
 
I am patient      
and lucky         
(Hello, lover. Hello, partner.)      
I miss the road               
The good gigs
the crap ones          
the baseball.               
.