Biker Bar

This is an actual place Jackie and I went to last week and the name brought out the Robert Service in me. We met some of her cousins and their spouses there for dinner. The entire back wall was a bar stocked up to the ceiling behind it with every type of libation. Quite impressive. When we got there half the stools were occupied by some very interesting characters.

One of Jackie's cousins knew the new owner who was an ex-neighbor of theirs. The guy recently got a winning ticket for a million dollars and invested in this joint. He came over to talk and we complimented him on the food. "I plan on expanding the kitchen" he said "because now we only have one flat top to cook on. But these guys (looking over his shoulder), you know, are really only interested in drinking."

As we were leaving a band started firing up out back and eight more big hogs two by two were pulling into the special parking lot reserved for like minded folks.

Biker Bar

It was once called simply - North 40
though now McCarty's on the name
and I wandered inside with my lovely dear bride
found a place past the lonely pool game

The tables were set cafeteria style
we found ours near the lotto exchange
it gave us a view of the bar keep named Stew
with the Ladies and Gents room in range

Then Misty our gal with the long ponytail
slapped some old plastic menus right down
and asked if we knew what kind of a brew
we would like for deep sorrows to drown

My wife ordered water with a slice of lemon
and I said a coke would be nice
so she grunted OK then came back with a tray
and wondered what food we had found

Then pulling a pen from behind her right ear
to a pad that was simple and sweet
wrote salsa and chips with extra bean dip
and two North Forty burgers to eat

We had feasted and paid for our portions
when a band in the back found their song
and the door opened wide to the black leather stride
of a club who found where they belonged

We waited right there so I started to stare
at a sign said - meanest waitress's in town
then looking about saw some fellas no doubt
who seemed to be coming around

Dark beards on their face didn't slow down the pace
of two men who had drunken their fill
and to get to the room past my chair they would zoom
- except for an oath made to Bill

Now Bill was a father who told many tales
bout his life in the golden old days
when you do as your told and a man's word was gold
and a promise's a promise that stays

One day when his eyes were dimming
opened wide while he grabbed my kind hand
said he wanted to know if I ever would go
to a place with a live biker band

And if you do son then it's time to have fun
cause those guys are nothing but air
it would leave my soul well if one of them fell
I think that would only be fair

To tell you the truth when parking the car
it seemed like a family type place
and the bikes in the lot seemed to have their own spot
although maybe I acted in haste

But now there was only a second
to think of my love for sweet Bill
then I pushed back my chair as if that was fair
and down went one dude with a spill

His bandana flew up like a copter
his key chain rattled the floor
so sorry I said as the wife and I fled
in a flash we were out of the door

There are nights when I hear that band playing
while I'm tossing and turning in bed
and I wonder if Dad would still have been glad
if I'd written this poem in it's stead.