That failure was not
particularly spectacular
but it certainly was complete.
Perhaps I no longer know
what a scalper looks like
or how one speaks
or how the bargain is made
or even what the terms are.

The show
that I knew nothing about
before the tix were all sold out
is going on right now
and all the second hand ticket sellers
were beyond my ken
so my old school approach
seemed elegant
and perfect
and completely out of date.

Now, ticketless,
cashfilled and unentertained,
I kneel outside
in unseasonal cold,
wondering how I failed
so completely
and unsure if I could repeat it
quite so perfectly next time.