Fire

The Jaguar in front of me has a "W '04" bumper sticker
(as if I needed a reminder),
and my transmission is slipping.

Entering the store, my eyes are assaulted by a Christmas card display,
my ears by "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
As this is 10 November, I reckon it's closer to 68 days.

It has been years-- five? ten?-- since I ate breakfast cereal.
Today I have a craving for an old favorite brand.
That brand has shelf space, but the space is empty.

Then "The Twelve Days of Christmas" segues into "Fire"
(the Pointer Sisters' cover of Bruce Springsteen's song).
I smile at a total stranger, who smiles back.

10 November 2005