"Johnny Laces Up His Red Shoes."
"If Fred Astaire had been really smart,
he would have danced like Johnny dances
on Friday night, with his brilliant red shoes that women
can detect half a block away.
If Fred Astaire had been all he was cracked up to be,
he would have danced like Johnny dances
on Friday night, on two pools of quicksilver
painted fire engine red.
Johnny is lacing up his red shoes.
He is a pizza, a kiss in the dark.
And as his fingers tie the laces,
he thinks of long dark hair.
On his bittersweet sofa bed, Johnny
is lacing up his red shoes.
And as his fingers tighten the laces,
his work clothes slide deeper into the evening shadows.
If Fred Astaire had been serious,
he would have walked through the door of the neighborhood bar
like Johnny does on Friday night,
wearing two small volcanoes that are permitted to erupt
for only three nights."