Greek diner hostess

I see lolipops and mints
lolling and minting around
hoping for attention
like everyone else

I taste the blue in my life
heavy like maple syrup
on pancakes
can you tell I hunger for something

Last night I stopped to smell the
snow and shake the hands of trees
pausing in an infinite moment
because time is two-thirds perspective
and one-thirds foolishness

and I ponder winter's stagnation- the
kingdom of purity while
summer- the kingdom of sin

at work I hear the singing of silverware
and muddled bursts of conversation
the saxophone on the speaker is dancing like a love cat
on a jump jive street

I see a Neapolitan morning sky through the glass windows
and I smile and whoop
because I've flown through the clouds before-
I want to possess them
to give them all of my memories
so they can lounge around
and cry every once in a while

has possession no stake in love?
it is part of desire
and I see people desiring everything
and loving nothing

the little boy who drops a penny
in the fountain
he's three and angelic looking
eyes wide open
and he doesn't know what wishes are
when you are young
love and desire are the same thing

yet there's still hope in the soft hands of
old men who hand me their change for the bill,
the coins hot from their pockets and
she, poor circulation (slow to rejuvenation?)
is grateful for their warmth, flowing
in an old fashioned wisdom and hand-me-down morality

playing it cool

deep sense of metallic tang in his cigarette
slow senses from the vodka
where's reality?
I feel I've slipped into
the alternate word
someone else's fantasy
not mind

the beat is too mind bending
caught in the rhythm that
dictates my breathing
grab on to his arm, close my eyes
let him bear the weight
too many people
are they really not pretending?
do they find fulfillment
in this endless charade of
tanned skin
mascara and cleavage?

suck deep and quick
get your buzz
get your fix
before the unknown
invades your body
you hate and love its teasing
fingers stirring your blood

give me more it says, find a quiet storm
release your thoughts like ghosts to
bounce off walls

the way home was a loud motor in the open Jeep
whipping wind and tangled tendrils
as I am delivered to my room
we are caught like deer in
flashlights- his hotel co-workers
fake smiles as he plays it cool, my illicit chaperone for the evening

an end to the night
was found in self-realization
a self studious mind journey
that roars in my ears
while I slip into unconsciousness