it was your birthday.
I took my heels off
and stumbled barefoot
down that city street
homeless, penniliess, careless,
faded, and fading into that kindly chaos.
celebrating, you
followed hesitantly
looking for an escape route,
quick and painless.
by the time you found it, I
was gone, tap dancing on a table
questioning which way was up
and why the blur
of the buzzing and barking
had stopped
suddenly your face illuminated-
those neon lights in your eyes,
and one honest smile
held for more than a moment.
