If only i could have, i would have --

I sit cake sits-silver stands on counter over my knees-chocolate cakes domed by glass chocolate hair wrapped by fingers she tucks white archies shirt into her dungarees --

A silver wrapped accoutrement her fingers twirl it-she standing by patrons with grey shirts and caps-minnesota twins beaten by weather by age they’re not clean-enough he is not clean enough- Katherine like palmolive --

Crows feet adorn me-her face without blemish-i burn down our distance some menu left of Katherine right of the bill-jacket brown with buttons and the crossword-her eyes catch my jacket me in the bar of the diner because she cannot serve booths --

I feel her neck-shoulders-my hands wrap clavicle between the edge of shoulder and jugular--

I see her serving other patrons i stay hours the last one right to close-moonlight wraps gutters into edges of sidewalks i cannot touch the moonlight by finger-just Katherine --

Closed at 8:30 Katherine walks-men trounce down heavenly the boulevard-spearmint gum stale within the confines of my mouth close to her mouth-i wish--

She walks like a debutante-my hand placed by her hip-on the waistband-her strides short measured i hold her upright--

Her photos plaster walls of apartments-hers mine next to the calendar aunts give to nephews for birthdays-her hands hot they stick and twist-breathing she moves too quickly-my home she sits she enters--

Barren couches and photographs she wanders-dirty dishes full sinks crumpled baseball cards and gum wrappers-she walks tentatively-a picture of a smile headshots she is not keen on--

My eyes my smile she does not appreciate-the door locks-she shall not leave-she takes the stairs--

Katherine, away--