The Cherry Glow

The lake is lapping at the slippery hole,
space heater kicking on,
the radio, we forgot and missed the fray.
The lake is lapping at the slippery hole,
pipe clicking between your teeth,
a drag, a pull, a puff, a cherry glow
throws a blush across your cheeks.
The radio, we forgot.
The radio, we forgot. (The radio)
The radio, we forgot
and missed the patterns in the early snow,
stutter-steps and shoulders thrown,
shadowless and frozen breaths,
fake to right, threw to left.
On the numbers, on the mark,
fumbled the catch, took to the heart.
"So, huddle up and listen close.
Brace yourselves against the cold."
I don't remember being cold.
Walleyes blinking up through the hole,
flinty-eyed accusations
ripple across brittle bones.
Rising towards the heat, the spark, the glow.
Yes, there is a darkness down the hole,
monsters that glide the chilly depths alone,
looking for a spark or to make their own.
The radio, we forgot.
(What was said and what was done...)
The radio, we forgot.
(...under the crush, this snow-packed hush)
The radio, we forgot...
(the light, the heat, the cherry glow, not shivering despite the...)
So, huddle up and curl in close,
brace yourselves against the cold.
"...your all, your best, your everything...
arrived as boys, played like men."
Hold each other tight like fists,
brave like boys, forget like men,
around the curves, around the bend,
football plays across your chest,
the heaving hills, the long ride home.
I don't remember being cold.
"Your all, your best, your everything..."