I wrote this poem for you because
you smoked your cigarette
sitting on those steps in
just
the
right way
was it the smoke
or your breath
I saw in the brisk air
coming out of your mouth?
I’ll never know
but
I wanted to bottle it up
and watch it
change
colors in the setting sun

I wrote this poem for you because
you had a nose stud
that sparkled in
the
fading
daylight
like your laugh
in the warm record store
like your eyes
when you mistook me
for being in college
like your fork
as you ate another bite
of your apple pie
with cherry topping

I wrote this poem for you because
you talked to me
like I was your friend
and I don’t even
know
your
name