11.02.03 - 10:44 p.m.

i was peering around the neighbors van,
waiting to cross trying not to get splashed and
he shuffled up behind me, crumpled old man in
a crumpled old fedora, all tweed and cane and
pagoda umbrella. he offered his arm, cleared
his throat said why dont we share? i blushed
oh thank you very much
its not every day i get to escort a pretty young lady across the street
well its not every day i get escorted
the traffic stopped for us, i hung on his sleeve
fingered the leather elbow patch and
impulsively kissed his cheek when we arrived
on the opposite side, took off running
yelled thank you sir! my kate spade pointy mules clip
clopping on the wet pavement he waved and
in my rearwiew mirror he inched his way back across the street
held a palm to the sky peered out from under his
pagoda and closed it, smiling up at the clouds.