Author Information
"Twas the Night After New Year's"
by Jeph Johnson
'Twas the night after New Year's,
When all through the street
Not a restaurant was open
And nothing to eat
I had no hangover,
Like the rest of world
New Year's Eve my only
Vice was a girl
I'd finished my drinking
O'er Christmas it seemed
See Twilla was finally
Back in my dreams
And this evening I found
Myself at her place
In her arms loving her
At a much slower pace
But even excitement
Must end in awhile
So I kissed her and reminded
Her what her smile
Meant to me as I finally
Walked out her door
Heading out so I could
Go home and dream more
My stocking cap worn
On my head as I walked
In hopes that it wouldn't
Be too many blocks
I didn't realize
How hungry I was
As I walked down Burnside
To catch a bus.
From her apartment,
Towards Natures Northwest
I hoped that this wouldn't
Have to be such a quest
Twilla was nestled
All snug in her bed,
While visions of "frineds"
Danced in her head;
In warm pajamas,
(While outside I shook),
She settled down quaintly
To read a good book
When down the street
There arose such a clatter,
I looked to my right
To see what was the matter.
I spied in the window
And lights they did flash,
Chopsticks Karaoke,
So I looked for some cash
I soon checked my pockets
And found I'd enough
Money to go in
And finally get stuffed
When what to my wandering
Eyes should appear?
But a big Tri-Met bus,
Number 19 on it's rear!
I had to think fast,
I had to be quick
Chinese or the frozen
Food in my fridge?
More rapid than eagles
The bus it did fly
I whistled, and shouted,
But he went right by
I then so decided,
My mind was my mood
The karaoke bar
Was where I'd eat food
Unlike in Cheers,
No one knew my name
So I dropped a quarter or two
In a video game
And sat at the bar
Awaiting the bartender
"What'llya have?" She screamed,
In a voice not too tender
Deciding this wasn't
As good of a venue
As the Galaxy bar,
I looked at the menu
Pork, shrimp or beef rice
Fried with bean curd
Chicken mixed with eggs,
Or any other kind of bird
The choices were really
Not too diverse
So I ordered some rice
And did not converse
After I'd eaten,
I went back outside
And looked for a bus
To give me a ride
When passed the twenty,
I started to pray
But the nineteen, my bus,
Was still miles away
So I walked and I walked
And walked some more
And found myself at
The Galaxy's front door!
Shannon at the bar,
Tending the brew
I strolled in to chat,
Sing a song or two
Patrick the DJ
Was taking requests
Yet I wasn't assured
Of getting my rest
So I stayed a tad longer
Then made my way
To the 12:30 bus
That was seldom late
But this night due to
The holiday times
It arrived at
Nearly 12:45!
So when I got home
I had to be content
With only her voice
On my recorder that went:
"You must have decided
To stop at the bar
You raging alcoholic!!"
I say: "Well, without a car!"
