Hello Good-bye Ray Scoville

April 3, 1985

The room was a tall glass of golden Auslese,

I stood in the sweet light on a pale mint carpet

Beside the thick grey chairs and spoke earnestly

To men bearing diamond tie pins.

Your brown Suit and long red hair swirled through the room.

You were upon us, startled, as if about to

Speak, then not. Puffing your cheeks, you pushed

Through the glass door to the empty parking deck.

Was I a poor partner in this card game?

After sipping too much wine, did I fail

To read your bid? Old friend,

Did my look give you away?

The room hissed behind you,

The Exiled Passion-Mad Byron Of Joliet.

Outside on the cement drive you beat some object

Like a burglar bashing toward a coin box.

Then you ran up a ramp. I heard sirens

As squad cars approached and your black

Porsche

Raced away.

Thomas Jesse Roach