"She Ain't Playing" by Tobi Alfier

She Ain’t Playing

One more song
fills the corners
of the room

the lyrics sweet
voice gravelly
like heels on hearthstones.

Her late night habits
— living rebuttal
of any standard of moderation.

She’s a realist,
undreamy to the core
even as she watches the moon rise

through the faux antique
mirror over the bar.
She’s a faux antique

but she dares you
to call her that.
She will damn you

to hell,
to the streets,
to a different melody.

Her hiss strikes your face
like a sting, like a slap
and with that, the song is over.

Tobi Alfier

Tobi Alfier’s credits include Arkansas Review, The American Journal of Poetry, Gargoyle, James Dickey Review, Louisiana Literature, Permafrost, Washington Square Review. She is co-editor of San Pedro River Review (www.bluehorsepress.com).

Headshot: JC Alfier

Photo Credit: Staff