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….
Common Threads 