a saturday night in your hometown
sidewalks bustling, dogs barking
tumbleweeds tumbling
the dust is an omnipresent cloud
& you choke at it constantly
without noticing

you cross the street & go into a shop
where gingham dresses slouch in the window
your love is behind the counter
& you greet her with a kiss on the cheek
she half-smiles, which annoys you
though you don't know why

you exchange idle chatter for an eternity
she angling forward to subtly expose
while you lean casually against the register
swiping mints from the March of Dimes honor box 


-- 25th February 1999