HENRY'S INSOMNIA.

A MAN AND THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR.

Henry knew the dame
Next-door liked her jazz
And liked it very
Loud and even though

He never went to
Bed until late, he
Could still hear her jazz
Piping into his

Room, keeping him wide
Awake, but when he
Met her on the stairs
Next day going to

The shops with her bright
Blue eyes and cute a*s
And lovely long legs,
He said nothing, but

Smiled and watched her go
Until she was out
Of sight and only
The image was left

To him to fondle
Over and keep to
Make dreams of if he
Ever managed to

Get to sleep. She rang
His doorbell later
That day and when he
Opened it, she stood

There with a bowl and
Said, do you have some
Sugar I could have?
Sure, he said, come on

In, take a seat, pour
Yourself a drink, I’ll
See what I have, and
Off he went into

The kitchen and he
Heard her pour herself
A drink and turn on
His radio and

Sing along to the
Music. He returned
With her bowl filled with
Sugar and she was

Lying on his couch
With a drink in her
Hand looking at him
With her bright blue eyes

And smiling at him
With her sultry lips.
You have a fine place
Here, she said. Do you

Live here all alone?
Are you married? Yes
On both counts, he said,
Watching her run a

Finger along her
Thigh. Where’s your wife now?
She asked, her eyes on
Each aspect of him.

She’s in Chicago
Shacked up with some bum
Of the lowest rank,
Sucking his manhood

From him as she did
Me, I hope. And now?
She asked, what do you
Do now? I eat, drink,

Write and dream of you
Beautiful dames and
Go to the races
And the clubs and see

Old friends and their wives
And make love to old
Flames and pay taxes
And pay the rent and

Sleep deep until late.
He paused as she drained
Her drink and gave him
The empty glass and

Took away the bowl
With borrowed sugar
And said, I hope my
Girlfriend and I don’t

Keep you awake with
The jazz and bouncing
Of our bed at night.
Henry shook his head,

Hell, no, I sleep like
A baby and don’t
Hear nothing at all.
Good, she said, and walked

Off along the hall.
He watched her swaying
A*s and wished he were
A voyeur with a
Peephole in his wall.