She was my wishful thought of the day
She sat at another table in the coffeehouse
Her hands through her auburn hair
I imagined running away to Mexico with her
I saw her arm reach across the front seat of the car
changing the radio station
as a hundred miles of desert sky roared past
I would glance at her while driving
her gaze on the horizon
her arm out the window, dancing in the air
we would find ourselves entangled in rooms from here to the border
cheap rooms, with cigarette burns in the furniture
three channels on the tv
Her body across hotel sheets like a river
snaking through the American desert
what was my life dropped away
and I buried myself in her
she got up from her table
she glanced at me
I was sure there was a brief smile
then she was out the door
on the sidewalk
through the storefront glass I watched as she lit a cigarette
took a drag
watched the ash burn
and then she was gone
leaving me with my coffee
and my life as it was
June 20, 2011