A college bar. An open mic. An invite. I agreed. To go. But not. To read. Ian. Baby face. Long hair. Scarf. Tight. Denim coat. Guitar. Easy smile. I wrote. Boxing poems. He got. Punched. Last week. By a “friend.” Ate it. Didn’t hit. Back. A pitcher. Slapped. Me. When. I was 15. Ate it. Didn’t hit. Back. Two. Pretty boys. Who. Didn’t punch. We came. For music. Host played. Too long. Derek danced. Ian. Got slapped. For chatting. In a car. With. Someone’s girl. His brother. Went. To attack. Ian. Held him. Back. Jeez. Zoo. So much. Test. Tost. Terone. So much. Vio. Lence. I stopped. A fight. Last week. Two vets. With demenz. On the. Lock. Down. Unit. Wanted to. Kill. Each other. I got. In. The way. Caught. A fist. With. My hand. Pushed it. Down. One squeezed. My wrist. Till it. Turned. Red. Three. Dumb. Men. Excited. By. A Tussle. Neither patient. Got hurt. It was. A win. WE ARE NOT. VIOLENT MEN. Ordered fries. Gave them. Away. Weak stomach. Ian. Finally played. Guitar. Made stuff up. Like he. Was. Prac.Tiss. Sing. In his. Base. Ment. He’s. An artist. A Sen. Si. Tive. Guy. He Ex. Per. I. Ments. I. Respect. It. To. The bar. It was. An affront. Feed. Back. Loud. No clear. Dir. Rect. Tion. People. Walked out. Host. Turned. It down. I wanted. To. Kiss. Ian. Didn’t know. If he. Was. Bi. I was. Marr. Reed. Derek. On next. He shouted. POET. TRY. People. Talked. His voice. Hit. The Crowd. Over. Power. Ed. It. Attack. Attack back. Been there. Before. Not. My scene.  I have. The Voice. At work. I told. A story. And. Yelled. “I KNOW. YOU SAW ME.” Everyone. Stopped. Everyone. Stood. Everyone, Scared. Nurse. Said. “Your voice. Is LOUD. I hope. You. Never. Get. Angry. With me.” I. said. SORRY. To Ian. For not. Read. Ing. Said I. Did. Not. Feel. Like. A fight.