smoke and illumination [a valentine’s day memoir]

no linen napkins. no salad forks.
[crinkle of cereal bags]
the air is cold. hot tea.
[i stayed in the car, thank you]
wrong turn on main street.
[never listen to your wife’s directions]
parking. walking. windy. stamp on right hand.
[should have left my coat in the car]
walking. again. windy.
[jaywalker]
illumination through the cigarette smoke
[holding your hand tight. drunken lovers quarrel]
don’t spend your whole life, waiting for your whole life