STICKY KISS 1975.

A HUSBAND AND WIFE OUT ON THE TOWN IN 1975

Who's she then?

Netanya asks

as I sat in the bar

of the local

beside her

at a window seat

who?

I ask her

that fancy bit

with the arse

sticking at a mile

who smiled at you

where?

there at the fruit machine

putting in

her ill-gotten gains

Netanya says

nodding in the direction

of the newly installed

fruit machine

I eye the woman

standing there

she smiled at me?

yes she bloody well did

didn't you see?

no I was looking

at the dart players

I say

dart players my tits

you were gazing at her

and all that

she flashes at you

I look away

from the woman

and stare at Netanya

never seen her

before in my life

I say

she stares

back at me

her eyes boiling blue

if you're going

to accuse me

all night about women

who may or not

smile at me

then I'm going

I say

taking a sip

of my beer

she pouts her lip

then sips her cocktail

with the cherry

on a stick

every time I go out

with you

you think women

are making eyes at me

or that I'm having

an affair with

one of them

I say

don't come to me

tonight for the sex

because there won't

be any

she says

very encouraging

I say

lighting up

a cigarette

she smiled at you

Netanya says

I saw her

with my own eyes

it was that

come to bed eyes

look and smile

I'm not familiar

I say

maybe you are

she slams her glass

on the small table

and her cocktail

cherry stick

jumps out

AND WHAT'S THAT

SUPPOSED TO MEAN?

she says loudly

people stare at us

from around the bar

I sip my beer

and take a drag

on the cigarette

and stare at the floor

if the hat fits

I say

she picks up

the cherry

and sucks it

off the stick

she sighs

then sips her drink

where we going

after this?

she says

leaning into me

and damaging me

with a sticky kiss.