earlier today

so this big guy
who looks like he's a unitard away
from a 1930s wrestler biopic
goes up to me
in wrigleyville...
"Hey Red,
i know you'll play my game

(and he's got the casual southern confidence to back up
his Stone Cold act)

"...you punch me in the stomach as hard as you can, and if my knees buckle i guarantee i'll give you an ice cold one"

and holds up a bag
wet with 6 sweaty cans of Busch

unfortunately
i learned years ago
from a 3 card monte maverick
not to play games with overconfident figures
you meet on the el

perhaps another day
but tonight
i aim to keep my teeth