7
March 20, 2020
The couple walks through the snowfield
If they walk fast enough they can
Stay on the thin layer of crust without
Sinking down low and getting their feet wet.
They walk to get the mail
Because that’s all there is to do around
Here. They miss their house in California
If they stay too long in the ski cabin.
And this is too long.
They’re so old. How’d that happen? The
Man wonders. The woman enjoys retired
Life and he does not.
It’s time to get outside for a little
While and he can barely bring himself
To stand from his chair and lace up
His tired boots.
The mountain’s closed.
All the people ache to flock to the
Mountain but it’s not taking
Any visitors.
The mountain wants a break,
To enjoy the blue of the sky
And maybe explore some of its
Other passing interests.
Because it’s never had a chance
To. And now is the ideal time.
The bar’s still open, with all it’s
Wood paneling.
The people go there and
Play billiards, drink dark beer, socialize.
But it’s not the same as the mountain.
They drink themselves to death.
The good ol’ days of the bar
Have passed. You know those bars
With polaroids pinned up on the walls–
Polaroids of people who don’t come to the bar
Anymore but look like they had a really good time
When they did. The barmaid’s still here. She’s
In the pictures, back when she was
Bright faced and busty and thought
This was just going to be a short-term
Thing. She knows the inner workings of
The bar better than anyone, not that there’s
Much to know. And she hates her life even
More than Roxanne. She hasn’t been out
Of the bar in many years it seems,
Doesn’t even remember what the mountain
Looks like.
If the bar closed where would she go?
Because the mountain’s closed too.
She tries not to think about that.
The man comes into the bar.
Takes a seat. Orders something
Drab, sips without vigor,
Dreading going to get the mail
Tomorrow.
Let me sink down deep into the
Snow. Let it come up to my chin
And then don’t stop. But she doesn’t
Know that. She pours him another.
There’s something of little consequence playing on
The old television. He latches onto it, cheers for
The blue team. Little do they know this will be the last game ever
She pours another for herself. The mountain’s still
closed.