Love

on the left side by the linen napkin
the silver sparkled under the crystal chandalier
like a carefully lined up row of diamonds
waiting for the jewler to set them in gold

but destiny is a salad: onions, lettuce,
two quiet grape tomatos all covered with
creamy blue cheese dressing set neatly
in a clear glass bowl .

first, the smile tells me there is no fate
here before the last free supper
then the fork reminds me.

I unfold the white napkin and carefully
stretch it across my wide lap
with a simple elegant smile and a flourish
of left handed prowess.

I fumble for a moment with the wine,
removing the meaty cork and swirling it into
the crystal glass - untuned except for old-tongued love
upon it's blunt edges.

Here, besides the chink of silver against bowl
of crystal against tooth, and
her longing gaze, there is only silence
and a quiet dream

of the first tine
oozing the stench of cheese
slicing into my eyeball
so that I might never see again.