OTTO AND BILLY

Oh.
When I heard that Laura would be here,
I didn’t think it would be you.
I thought it was Hot Laura.
Young Laura.
Clever Laura.
I thought it was the Laura
that I long for
Laura whom I live for,
the Laura that I’d love
to love.

I didn’t know you knew Steve
or that Steve knew
that I knew you
and I didn’t know
why he thought I’d care.

Maybe
when he heard me
sing the praises
of Luscious Laura,
Luxurious Laura,
Laura who learned eleven languages,
all in April,
he thought that I meant you.
Maybe he doesn’t even know Laura
– not you.
The real one.
I really should introduce them…

Anyway, Laura,
I’m sorry about the confusion.
I never would have stopped by
had I know you were the star attraction.
If you’ll excuse me,
I’m late for a Preminger retrospective.