walking into a bar I’d not been for years
fella found my elbow steered me through the crowd
& I could tell he wanted me to be the buyer
though I hardly remembered his face
I bought us beers & a brandy chaser
how can I help you he asked all foxy sly
letting me know it was him wanted from me
I thought I’d drop by see if K was around
she used to drink here years ago
he thought for a minute
leaned back motioned the barman for more
you know she left S right?
he cried for days sent people to try & find her
you’re not one of those?
we drank some more as I tell him no
I’m here for me just an old friend saying hello
I saw him look over my shoulder
I gotta go but I think she’ll be here soon
it’d be only a few seconds later a tap on my arm
& I turned to look into the face of K
I saw you with that creep what did he want?
he was going to tell me how to find you I said
humph she went he knows I come here most days
around this time to meet up with friends
about then I thought of punta arenas
before you get to the town the smell of the slaughterhouse
attaches to you your nose clogs infects your clothes
today was the stink of the man who’d played me
worked the odds for a drink or two
just a hustler hustling
the only thing he knows