She had an Angel’s smile
glancing at me several times
in a bookstore
I got all the mojo
I could and walked up
and said can I buy you a coffee
at their snack bar?
Smiling she reached
for my hand
as we walked to the bookstore’s
sit down coffee and pastry area
We talked of past hurts
and imagined outloud
things might be different
if we met again
It was to happen
the next day
on the beach
she would bring a picnic lunch
I’d bring wine and soft drinks
Diane never showed up
I walked up and down the beach
for hours
looking for her
Finally I sat down
as salted tears soaked
the sand
and waited
two more hours
just in case . . .
Before going to my hotel
I tasted my tears on the sand
for a memory
of her
to take home
The Broken and The Holy 