That GUITARRR

in the summer of 1984
Twisted Sister's We're not Going to Take It video is popular
a mean father (Niedermeyer from Animal House)
mocks his son for only wanting to play
that...that...
GUITARRR (spat out with disgust)

I didn't like the video at first
hated it, really
i thought it was violent
you explained it to me

no, it's funny
it's like the roadrunner cartoons
watch it again
i did
you were right
you were always so smart

soon you're indulging my desire
to say "that...that....GUITARRR"
apropos of nothing

it becomes part of our lexicon
our culture of two
our silliness
our fun times

that summer
there's some kind of contest on MTV
we're lying on the plaid couch
at your friend's lakefront vacation home
I could stay here forever
i love being so close to you
but my foot is falling asleep
i need to shift positions

I'm leaning awkwardly on my elbow
about to turn on my side to face you
taking in a white Stratocaster on the screen
when the announcer
says something about how you could win
: That..that... GUITARRR!

Between being mid position adjustment
and looking at you to acknowledge
this moment on TV that is so us
our stupid wonderful brand of comedy gold

i fall onto you
we shake and roll 
trying to turn our tangled mess of limbs
into side by side lovers

too late

no time to readjust
(or maybe we just gave in)
we teeter over the worn cushions
landing in a heap on the floor
in each other's arms
(did we land that way or reach for each other?)
cracking up

the other couple in the room
who we know
just well enough to dislike
is staring at us
stonefaced and baffled

i look at you
you look at me
we crack up again
this time so hard it hurts

i'm not sure we were ever more in love
than we were in that minute and a half