4223. MY WILY GUIDE TO THIS SOIREE

MY WILY GUIDE TO

THIS SOIREE

The frenzy of acclaim has nothing like this

going for it - not a once nor a twice come

to mind. I watch the people along the table.

They eat apples as at a celebration. Simple

enough, all that. In the background, a tune

of some 1960's music plays one; a few

people are bobbing their heads in time.

-

It's always like that around young folk and

old - those commingled matters where the

stories never mesh. Either abject apologies

or outlandish contradictions are in order.

The silly girl in yellow, she throws her

arms around, flailing as if to mime a

dance. The others are watching,

and applaud what she does.

-

I love moments like these, even as

I'm not a part. The glass piano sings,

the plates and cups jangle their odd

sounds. People chatter and eat, nod

and chatter. A storybook moment

'midst tablecloths and waiters

and fountains and ice.