A tiny oasis
on the road to somewhere else
weary travelers passing

pause

for a moment
for respite
for fuel
for refreshment

before moving on

to places dreamed of
and dreamed about
sometimes in posters
on the walls

new york london paris
saint louis too
and new orleans

a lithe slip of a girl
floats

out of nowhere

with ponytail bobbing
and smiling eyes
shining

announcing specials
from yesterday's fare

requests and selections
noted

she
looks around and
briefly

recalls her own

as she pirouettes
before disappearing

behind curtain doors