October 14, 2024

is a song I heard in the bathroom of The 'Shoe Tavern
(my fav TO spot)
that caught my ear when I heard a line about RFK
(who I hate)
so I ran out and ditched out on John and Dan
watched as a charming man in a suit with an acoustic guitar
told me a story
about a figure I knew years ago
back when I lived in Corktown.

That I caught it on video 
pushed back my tears for The Hammer
sat back down at our table in the corner of the bar
and shot the shit about
tattoos
Windsor bands
living in The Big Smoke
and laughing until my face hurt.

After, in the pouring rain
we peed in a back alley off Spadina
faces hurting from smiling
legs shaking from continued laughter
and hugged, kissed, looked in each others eyes

and blasted a song about a familiar
grumpy ol bastard
into the night on my phone
standing under a shared umbrella in the middle of the night.

We ate greasy food
had drinks
made stupid jokes
the sounds of the city and streetcars ringing in our ears
arm-in-arm like first-time lovers
feeling like nothing had changed since then
almost eleven years in.

The sparkle in his eyes
his big, stupid, toothy smile
making my knees weak like the very first day
and every day since.

I've come such a long way from Corktown
but found my way back to my old home
in a bar with checkerboard floors
with him.