Young Girl in a
Suburban Café

Marcie plays guitar and sings off key
or listens to the Velvet Underground
revivalists and sips a ginseng tea
until her turn on-mic comes back around.
She's luminescent, reaching to the length
of fingers spread across a rosewood board.
There's stiffness in her rhythm but some strength
behind that errant F# minor chord.
And, yes, the knotted scarf is kind of sweet.
She looks the part, a twist of smart and pretty.
Behind her through the window to the street
the DeCamp 33 bus to the city
idles brightly for a moment at the light,
then sets off on its slow trip through the night.



Wednesday Night Open Mic

Tasty Coco Bistro and Dessert and Lounge 

Caldwell, NJ

Rick Mullin

If you have any comments on this poem,  Rick Mullin would be pleased to hear from you.