The Contest of Strength

We were drinking in the back After closing up the store That old spirit in my throat A spirit for every occasion The contest of strength In the rain beneath the stairs Transmuting all the faces In the crippled weekend air Celebration Celebration Celebration Celebration The stories all were said We sank deep in our clothes Leaning long into each other's words Until the bars were closed Daniel stole because he could I breathed out through my nose A bright and sudden pain came up And killed the spirit in my throat Celebration Celebration Celebration Celebration He came out of his car Swinging wide the pipe I backed against a wall Some mumbled supplication Running with head hung Daniel ran my way He laughed hard And resumed the conversation Celebration Celebration Celebration Celebration Celebration Celebration Celebration Celebration