By DS Maolalai

Artwork by Alli Rowe

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there,

it is the sweetness of the dream,

or the stickiness of it

anyway,

and love

comes stumbling drunk

through every doorway

at 2am.

a woman and 2 men

are outside my apartment,

and the men are gay

and married

(that couldn’t have happened

even a year ago)

and I hear them.

they are

banging through the hallway.

it’s paddy’s day

2018

and they

are stumbling,

joyous stumbling drunk.

only 1 of them is Irish

and he is happy

anyway;

he has 1 friend with him

and 1 lover.

I’ve spent the day at home

so optimistic

something would come

that I missed it.

I should go in

deal out cigarettes

and share a drink with them

but instead I’ll stay at home,

drinking here,

satisfied,

listening to music

and the happy sounds

of a party happening

next door.

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