– That was a long hug.
– I guess it had a long way to reach back,
23 years,
To a tacky floored nightclub
At the end of it all,
Graduation formal,
Whatever came at the end:
Eclipse of Freshers’ Week.
University lifetime finished/
Fittingly finished
Drinks drained dry
And hugging goodbye –
It was a long hug then too
I suppose thinking it was the last.
Funny what you remember
What cuts through
Smoke-filled
Vodka-distorted
Dance-dazed decades.
I remember that though,
Nightclub packed
All aching out
Every last. Beat. Shot. Minute.
Of that life we had to leave behind.
Caught your eye. Smiled.
And hugged a long goodbye.
Train taking me back to my life
It makes me smile again
Grateful for an unexpected encounter –
Another bar. Another lifetime.
This time life blowing back a tiny echo
Of a story that starts and ends
The same way
A drink. A smile.
And a very long hug goodbye.