First Seeing You

You were there
behind the pastry counter

the owner was saying
something in Farsi

in the background
the piano was playing Sonatine

at my request.
People were waiting on drinks

and they would wait a long, long time.
There you were

behind the pastry counter.
It’s an image that I should

remember clear as day,
but I don’t.

I remember it like a Degas.

–October 19, 2015