“The Napkin Trick” in Dagda Publishing

It’s been done before:

The inten­tion of con­ver­sa­tion
starts and ends with a slow walk
around a famil­iar, short block –
the light purse or empty pocket.

(Tonight
after all
should only call for some cash.)

A set of doors is cho­sen
but not broached,

and reluc­tance comes as a reminder

of iso­lated drinks
where music from cars
(cir­cling the block in search of a park­ing spot)
is for­got­ten
on the front and back
of a red paper napkin.

—

This poem was originally published in Toasted Cheese Literary Journal, but I am reposting it as Uk-based Dagda Publishing published it yesterday. Thanks, Dagda!