Memories in a Teapot

of sun splashed cafes in Paris,
andouillette sausage in a medieval town
that didn’t match our palette,
we laughed as we rushed out
of town away from the angry
waitress, summer mornings at
the dinette watching the lone fish
circling the tank; he loves company
and then he kills them as we all
so often do with the things we
love.

Language of Love

non-linear and chaotic
laughter at no joke in
particular, wet sidewalks
and secrets.

Parlons Francais

we sit across the table from each other
discussing yet again, one might say, arguing,
about cable versus DSL speeds,
the politics of organic foods, how people
can be so dumb or so lazy; the words trip
off our tongues so easily, too easily,
in English;  quand nous parlons en français,
c’est tellement plus difficile, nous parlons
plus lentement comment c'est bon, notre diner,
ce qu’on aime dans la vie, des amis, la famille, les voyages ;
les mots sont plus faciles..parlons en français
pour une vie heureuse

Of Utmost Importance in this Moment

the freedom to write
anything; that of utmost importance
in this moment must be the sweetness
of vanilla ice cream and strawberries
fresh from my garden.

Examining the Garden

Weeds were the
main crop,

she surmised,
scrutinizing the
vegetable garden
after a week
away,
where she had to dress business casual
instead of dungarees and dirty knees.

weeds,
a few tomatoes, a handful of beans,
surrounded by towering flowers, all
the right plants in the wrong places.

One Couple, Two Beds

they used to sleep like two spoons
after a leisurely dinner;
pot roast and mashed potatoes,
apple pie from the local market and
vanilla ice cream, a decaf coffee and
a few episodes of I Love Lucy. 
He put on a few pounds and
developed sleep apnea; she
tried wearing ear plugs and
still hugged him as he struggled
to sleep with that contraption over
his mouth until he finally told her,
oh so lovingly, that he knew she
would sleep better if she slept
in a separate bed so he could
toss and turn and not wake her.
One couple, two beds
together.

Letter to a Waitress working in a Hotel Restaurant

Don't ever forget you have the nicest smile
No matter the others, with their fine clothes,
their fat wallets; no matter that they sleep in
on silk pillowcases, or that framed diplomas
from the best universities hang in their offices
that look out on the grand cityscape while you
look at starched white tableclothes all morning.
It is your smile which brightens the day of
all who are lucky enough to bask
in its glory.