Love's Last Shift Poem by Charles Wax

As soon as I walked into Meng’s
Billy Symes said, “Bernstein,
whatta ya think about Viagra? ”
“Why ask me? ”
“You’re a pill man.”
“Vitamins, ” said Treasure,
“caused he’s scared of death.”
“Two weeks ago, ” moaned Symes,
“My Lord and Master failed me.”
“Lola mentioned it, ” said Treasure,
“but I’d avoid Viagra
and go for prayer instead.”
“Billy, enough is enough,
you’re 87…”
“84, Bernstein.”
Lola appeared dripping wet
having been caught in the rain.
“How are you, Billy? ” she asked tenderly.
“One time ain’t a catastrophe…
we could go another way, holding…”
“If you want extra cash
you got it, no problem
but I gotta push through the gate
or I’m finished…as a man.”
He paused, stared at everyone, finally
bursting out, “I blow my nose
in hundred dollars bills.”
“He does, ” said Lola.
“Not Bernstein, ” laughed Treasure
winking at me
which I took as a cue so, “Go to a doctor, Billy,
and see what he says.”
Thunder now, huge booms
setting off car alarms
as the rainstorm plunged from heaven.
Lola stared out the large plate glass
window, eyes drifting past the window
until she said dreamily,
“When I didn’t have a place to stay
before I came to the Clement Hotel
I used to sleep in Lincoln Square Park
over by Eastern Parkway
and the puppies would come to me
in the night
and sleep with me.
and I kept them warm.”