The Concert

The Concert 

1,700 people here 

to see the Abba tribute band 

and the same person 

who always ends up 

by a screaming baby 

in restaurants and on airplanes 

is seated beside Sue 

…gonna put me to the test 

take a chance on me….

Sue who is one of 6 women 

“seated” in the 2 x 3 section

across rows F and G 

in seat F9

…..there was something 

in the air that night 

the stars were bright,

Fernando….

Sue who can’t seem 

to stay seated 

or facing the stage 

who turns sideways 

back to me 

and reclines 

….the history book on the shelf 

is always repeating itself 

Waterloo….. 

Sue who drunkenly 

introduces herself 

and her friends

says this is their last hurrah 

because all of her group 

is retiring, selling their homes 

moving away 

this is it

……this is where the story ends 

this is goodbye 

knowing me,

knowing you….

Sue who leans in 

to tell me 

that SOS is her favorite 

ABBA song ever 

and confesses that

she has “been throwing 

effing m&m’s at people” 

…..Voulez-Vous

take it now or leave it

now is all we get

nothing promised, no regrets…..

she throws one at me 

and at my boyfriend 

mine bounces off 

hits the ground 

his lands in his pocket 

we stare at her 

and all the while I’m thinking 

it’s a good thing for her 

that we are fairly balanced people 

who’d risk a lot 

of reputation clout 

fighting a drunk 

in Row F of a concert

over two plain m&m’s 

so we let it go 

…..but I suddenly lose control 

there’s a fire within my soul…. 

Sue who tells me again 

that SOS 

is her favorite song 

and asks,

“so you’ll get up 

and dance with me?”

I tell her no, that 

“Thank You for the Music” 

is my favorite 

and I’ll wait, but thanks 

and wonder why  

she wants anyone to dance 

nothing’s stopped her yet 

from going it alone 

….facing 20,000 of your friends 

how can anyone be so lonely 

super trouper 

lights are gonna find me….

Sue who’ll never know 

I had the other 50% partial 

4 weeks ago 

that not only do I not 

care to dance 

but I was forced into 

hot flash hell 

and keep 

holding my glasses 

away from my face 

every few minutes 

to unfog my radiant heat 

…..Chiquitita, you and I know 

you’ll be dancing once again 

and the pain will end

sing a new song Chiquitita…..

Sue who leans over me 

and asks my boyfriend 

why men don’t want to 

come to Abba concerts 

…..a man like that is hard to find 

but I can’t get him off my mind….

Sue who leaves her seat 

to pee at least three times 

during the concert 

who apologizes 

because her daughter 

has just been through a divorce 

-a nasty horrible divorce -

…..nothing else can save me 

SOS 

when you’re gone 

how can I 

even try 

to go on….

Sue who joins in 

with her other five 

parting friends

at intermission 

to scream-sing 

Funkytown  

(but somehow all manage

to omit the first N sound 

in their rendition)

who midway 

through Fuckytown

leans over 

and tells me that 

“it’s the only reality we have”

….gotta move on

won’t you take me to 

Funkytown…..

Sue who looks 

like a normal 60 year old woman 

with short wavy hair and glasses 

wearing cream-colored jeans 

and a three-quarter sleeve knit shirt 

and sandals but 

who will awaken Sunday morning 

with one hell of a wine hangover 

….take it easy 

better slow down girl 

that’s no way to go 

does your mother know…..

Sue who didn’t notice that 

we crept away from the sixth row 

heading toward the exit 

to get ahead of the masses, 

this husband of mine and I 

…..the winner takes it all 

the loser’s standing small

beside the victory

that’s her destiny….