men who idolize Frank Sinatra
by Hezekiah Allen Taylor

wear fedoras like Sammy mid-note
drink scotch like Dino, with a woman draped
seductively, loosely, like velvet cording

they hate to be called sir
as a doctor, they're called doc
they're highly unlikely to be a cardinal
or a rabbi or a baron

they live in apartments
not a mansion
nor a house
nor a shack

if all things are equal,
they'd rather not sing

and they wear tailored suits
no matter the theme
or humidity

you see, that's the hair shirt,
the itch for an art that you can't quite scratch;
you recognize it because it proves
you believe.

Francine's Version -- Hezekiah's Version -- Inspiration
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