Coconut Bar

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I drove my car down the main street 

Leaves are falling from the maples 

But for drought instead of glory

I waited at the final stoplight 

That separated me from you 

Seconds feel like hours waiting for the rebirth of green 

I passed the threshold at green dawn 

And pulled into the lot

You are at my window in a moment 

I saw that you were sweating 

From exertion uncharacteristic

But you blamed it on the mild sun 

We were inside and seated 

The waitress brings us water 

And crusted menus

I ask how things are going 

And you tell me what I already know from the phone call 

You order your usual 

I know all your usuals

But each time you are shocked I do 

That makes me smile 

But most things do when related to you 

Not my burger though

Not for $12

Remember when burgers were 5 or 6 

I ask half serious 

And we laugh 

The homeless man hits on you 

You ignore him 

And I blush more than I care to admit 

We get serious about dining 

And finish in silence 

The waitress let's my cup go dry 

We pay our respective bills 

You intended to be dropped off at home 

But today I am unlike myself 

I am not impulsive 

Everyone knows it 

I plan everything 

But somehow I whip into the gas station drive 

With inhuman speed 

Reckless but for the abandoned road

You ask me what I'm doing 

Glancing at the 'F' on my dial 

Icecream is all I say 

The concern drains from your face

And the way you smile reminds me that you like this part of me 

Though you rarely get to see it 

At the icecream freezer you agonize over the choices 

For they don't have your usual

And here I do something unexpected yet again 

I pick a coconut bar 

A $1 popsicle 

Hardly icecream at all 

You finally pick 

My future confection melting in my hands 

You do not pretend to argue when I pay 

We tear them open 

Wrappers discarded between your feet

From the first lick you bemoan your pick 

But I don't 

I love mine 

So creamy and so sweet

I am still chewing the stick 

When I stop in front of your house 

And you wave goodbye 

At the stop sign I consider discarding it 

But I cannot 

How could I part with it

The wood still holds the memory of coconut 

I toss it when I get home 

The flavor long gone to acrid wood 

I tell myself more coconut bars from now on 

Then I remember that I never even touched your hand 

Is this what love really is?

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