we sat at the table and calmly
discussed the future of us so
the waiter was happily tipped
and everything was all the same
but after we strapped on those shoes
the olden rules no longer applied
and I rolled the ball down the lane
and it didn't come back again
but it nicked one outlaying
that toppled over into the others
and ended in one chance strike
but the machine failed to count it

and several pitchers and pitches
we quickly curved toward the gutter
do you remember what you said to me
right before we missed the spare
what exactly was the outcome
when the debris was pushed aside