New Year’s Day

It took so long to fix

the place since the last

time I had a house party

that I was reluctant

to fling the doors wide

make the windows shake

empty the contents of my bar

make eyes at my girl’s ass

and throw all the furniture

into the pool.

But that is what a party is for.

So I

put all the cigarette butts

into beer bottle swill

wiped all the coke remnants

off the coffee table

laughed at the lingerie

between the cushions (glad

my girl knows I’m good)

and scrubbed the vomit

from behind the toilet.

That is what a clean house is for.

But I

missed all the laughter

and the bad behavior done

in goodwill towards my neighbor

it was time for another party

But I

am too old to fish out chairs

from the deep end

too old to snort coke off a brunette’s ass

and cigarettes make me choke now.

This is what wisdom is for.

So I

Hired a bad ass bouncer

who can neither be deceived

nor bought off with empty promises

of good behavior, when she can see

the white under your nose

and your intent to vomit

behind her toilet.

Mostly, she keeps an eye out

for insecurity and fear

because those two bastards

keep changing clothes

trying to sneak back in.

If this is not the battle cry for a good party, I do not know what is.