a little wrong

fizzy wine, minor embarrassments
ill-advised selections
we found the wrong side
of town
the street
grocery aisle 9 has bargains
just the wrong bargains

you can stand in line for hours
beatific
hungry for the next step
never quite the right step
and read the labels
excruciatingly slow
do they still teach phonetics?

you have your mother's eyes
her small determination
your shoulders set
square
sometimes wear that sweet
obsession
sometimes smile with charm

each day i find the sun
less warm
i give the night
embellishments
stand barefoot in the garden
toes wet
smelling my old roses

if you could understand
the dark
if i could understand
you
our mailman knows your mother
where could i go
that would be far enough?