"Blind Date

9:01

i'm perched on my chair at the trendy bookstore slash cafe
feeling like an obvious rainbow colored spectacle when
the girl behind the counter with the empty eyes and beautiful hair
sees me glance at the clock and thoughts of being stood-up
begin to tiptoe impishly around in my head.

9:12

the drag queen lounging beside me with the green glitter eyeshadow
says, don't worry, sugar. traffic and parking's really bad 'round here
and i don't like that she knew what i wasn't even thinking
while i pace and fidget, feigning nonchalance
and lighting another camel light.

9:36

someone sifting thru the abba c.d.'s
knocks one plastic case against another and
my heart echoes the sentiment as i square
my shoulders and take a few tantric breaths and
light another cigarette to keep my trembling fingers entertained.

9:59

i'm mortified at how obvious it must be that i'm
waiting for someone, chain-smoking, with a
head that keeps whipping around
like a freak hopped up on angel dust
or maybe just like a girl who thinks she just got stood-up

10:25.

so i'm contemplating the cost of a cab and lung cancer
and in my peripheral vision i see velvet and freckles and
for some reason i notice then that my cigarette is moist with sweat
(visions of pcp freaks dancing in my head)
and i hear her say my name with a cautious question mark breathed at
the end.