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Ray’s Spar Bar, By: Leonard Kress

November 7, 2023 by Leonard Kress

Ray’s Spar Bar, By: Leonard Kress

Every night the same—Ray’s Spar Bar
blocks from the defunct boxing club
undefeated alums framed behind the counter

among them young Ray himself
chin resting upon one glove
smirking as if he’d landed a punch

on his own mandible and it’s taken
this many decades for it to bruise and swell.
Though the only fisticuffs now

are me beating myself up
while the others slump on stools
from shifts ending hours ago

swaths of tar on roofing boots
swirls of grease on sleeves
the tiny tv Phillies turned down low.

With my quarter change from a late draft
I choose Charley Pride on the juke
and some loopy sentimental

Polish waltz and then Hank Williams
unable to help himself and like me
still in love with you.

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