5. FIRST DATE

Before you get there,
You pull over,
Take a breath, then
Looking in the
Rearview mirror, you
Fix your hair so
That the curls
Regain their
Random sauciness, and–
Though you want to
Only pay attention to
The way things really are –
You wish the last
Ten years hadn’t
also happened
to your face.
As you park your car
And make your way
Into the restaurant,
You remember
In a burst of
Images and song
The life you’ve lived
So far: the people you
Have loved and
Who’ve loved you.
You can feel them
Celebrating that
You have, perhaps,
Embarked upon the
Next leg of the
Lover’s journey.