JESSICA ELIZABETH

 

We met over pasta when you were 18

And I was more than a tad older.

You waited on me

And while I waited on you

We spoke of my ever-present reading material

Something on meditation and desire.

You spoke of your mother

And how she was the spiritual type

Sounded like a hippie sort to me

Just friendly and wise

And obviously sexy like you.

I didn’t know that she was gone.

But I knew that you were here

Now

In the present moment

The most alive creature I had ever known

All tangled between innocence and loss

Experience and discovery

And I yearned for more.

Your smile

Radiant and electric

From the moment our eyes met

And not just that practiced

“Please tip me, sir”

smile of a waitress dressed up

alluring and serving

just enough to entice

a few extra percentage points from my wallet.

This smile said, “Teach me.

I’m ready for more.

What can you tell me of life

That will make all this pain

Go away

All of these questions

Make sense.”

The smile that began answering

those same questions for me.

~ for Ms. Mitchell