Steve Hickoff

Stay in Your Lanes

It’s just another night at the door, 
the regulars wink, their Hogs parked askew. 
You never know what jackets are for. 
  
Drunks approach, ambitions ready to soar, 
upside-down collars, fashion debut! 
It’s just another night at the door. 
  
College boys swagger, promising war. 
I offer a taxi, they threaten a coup. 
You never know what jackets are for. 
  
“Losers!” one shouts, then flips off the floor, 
sleeves like tree branches, intentions askew. 
It’s just another night at the door. 
  
Wolf packs retreat, their courage no more. 
Last call arrives, and trouble is through. 
You never know what jackets are for. 
  
I lock up, yawn, and quietly implore 
for sleep before teaching a poetry crew. 
It’s just another night at the door. 
You never know what jackets are for.

Steve Hickoff is the poetry editor of Spitball: The Literary Baseball Magazine. Steve’s poem “You News, You Lose” appeared in Pulsebeat 11. He’s published in The Quarterly: The Magazine of New American Writing, Turnstile, Gray’s Sporting Journal, The Penguin Review, Pinchpenny, and others. He also co-wrote “Drivin’ on 9,” a song first recorded by Ed’s Redeeming Qualities, later covered by The Breeders on their platinum-certified album Last Splash. He lives in Maine. stevehickoff.com