NOISY

a woman at the table
diagonally across
from mine
is visibly nervous
drinking red wine
whispering something
with lips alone
the waiter
bends down to her

just ahead of me:
imagine
forgot my keys
picture them all standing outside
in the morning
locked out of the office

a pop song is playing
on Russian Radio
how do i live
a boy asks
how do i live

i know what's up    with time
we will all change
become something else
chow-chow      dolphins
rabbits    baby seals

still warm-blooded
already wordless

then
we'll keep silent a while