Peace Cafe

2352 California Avenue SW
January 21, 1996

Another pilgrimage
with my friend, Geoffrey,
started this snowy, slushy,
chilly Sunday.

After 46 blocks of walking
and listening to Geoff complain
about the lack of horses,
I reached the Peace Cafe!

I started to raise my fists
in the air and sing, Flying High Now
like in the first Rocky,
when I met the Wife of Bath
confronting the barista;
proclaiming love this
and proclaiming love that;
maybe out of place
when talking about that piece of cake.

I saw the Knight at the gas station
across the street wondering
what to do wtih the pump.
His horse ate Twinkies off the stand,
wrappers and all,
while staff stared dumbfounded.

Alison told me the Miller
was arrested for sitting on the sidewalk,
laughing, confusing politicians
with the word, cuckold.

But that shipman
roared Alison
still drives around Aurora Avenue
in a rusty blue van
peeking through binoculars.

Once seated, I searched for a pen
as an amused Geoffrey
vanished.