it was a face
against the whitestripe fence
sloe eyes and
a sweet mouth, pursed
like a cherry.

i blinked,
and she became
leafshadow again;
i stared, and she winked.

i waited
but the sun rose
too slowly for me
to figure out
the moment the angle
changed and
it was just
a twisted bunch
of leaves
casting grapeknot shade.

of all the people
i met today, she
was the
most real.

tomorrow, when
i’m taking down
coffee and a shot
of beam for the
day, i’m sure
i’ll see her again.

i’ll look away
while she’s still a face
so neither of us
will be lonely.