sometimes
the memories
and traditions
and thoughts of events gone past
get to be too much
and you are at a [relatively] low-stakes performance
and you feel the desire
no the drive
no
the absolute
need
to go to denny’s
[or any late late late night diner]

and you try to be better behaved
than your sixteen-year-old self
but you still find yourself
singing
at the table…
[but at least there was no
truth-or-dare jenga

this time]