Lent Poetry 40 and 41

40

Joe

he was seated next to us
small, old, but stylish--
I liked his sweater--
we introduced ourselves
as our dinners arrived
he ate his fish, then
made a trough of
his potatoes and gravy
telling us it was important
to make sure you ate all the meat
so you don't waste it


after we finished our food
and ordered dessert,
he told us stories
of when he averted death
by falling tree
and about our house,
among other things.
we told him a bit about us
and what we're doing
with the old Post Office
and that we weren't going to change
the building all that much
I said was starting a shop
he liked that

I made him promise to come for tea
when the shop was open
with a promise of
homemade baked goods
he assured me he would
and waved as we left
another came over
he said hello to him
as he finished the last
of his mash
and told another story

41

you actually like rain?
she says, surprised
I nodded
rain feels wonderful
it cleanses the world
makes things fresh and new
the cold
feeling clean and comfortable
instead of feeling like
drowning
yes, I do, I replied
smiling as I headed
into grey clouded
afternoon