OMG, it's been a month since my last poetry prompt! And it's the 200th Wednesday Poetry Prompt ever! I guess I'd better quit using exclamation points, eh?

For this week's prompt, take the phrase "In the Company of (blank)," replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: "In the Company of Strangers," "In the Company of Poets," and "In the Company of Abraham Lincoln."

Here's my attempt at an In the Company of Blank poem:

"In the Company of a Bunch of Good for Nothing Scoundrels"

Guy walks in the door and everybody turns to take a gander
hands at the hilt, fingers on the trigger. Happy, the guy says,
"I'm getting married! Drinks are on me!" The barkeep uncorks
a bottle as a few men cheer. Others stare at the guy--suspicious
as ever--but he doesn't pay them any attention. When one big
dude with a handlebar mustache sneaks up on the guy, he
turns and ducks just in time to miss a punch. Then, he counters
with a right that lands the mustache dude against the bar,
which is all it takes to start others picking up chairs and throwing
punches. The whole bar a kicking and a gouging and a robbing
except for me and the barkeep. While he keeps clear behind
his bar, I play a catchy tune from the safety of my piano.

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