295/365

take out pizza straight from the boxes
a few cocktails shaken and stirred
earl grey and strawberry balsamic gelato
a mellow glass of cabernet
the decemeberist. tay tay. phoebe bridgers

new colleagues.
new friends.
familiar conversations:   
how about this covid.
how about these students
this job, where else did you work?
so whatcha watching?
let’s hear a random story
from your youth.

the battery powered candles flicker
a warm glow into the room.
small talk with brains full of big thoughts
can be quite soothing.
we are all lonely strangers
bumping around in the dark
looking for someone to notice
our misguided trajectories
and bring us back into the fold.
we are shepherds and sheep.

new relationships
at middle age-
i wish there were new
parts of me to put on display.
i talk a lot less these days.
it’s a miracle we live so many years.

thanks for having us.
thanks for coming.
let’s do this again soon.
pleasantly surprised
by our sincerity.