Ringing

Tonight I sat next to myself
at an uncrowded bar
in a hip neighborhood.

The other me was giving an impassioned
"please buy into my genius
new business idea" spiel
to a possible angel
investor wearing no makeup.

Each word sounded like "desperate,"
backed by the unanswered phone:
creditors calling.

I turned my bitter face
away. Nothing could have crushed
my passion... but, just in case.

New Year's Eve

Spilling Chopin
down the ivory
or Champagne
down a shoulder,
I savor both of you.