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Stranger

Stranger

sitting in

a Chinese restaurant

waiting for

fortune cookies

and the cook comes out

his shirt wet

from washing

and chopping

and mopping

and woking

and he starts systematically

clearing away tables

and looks over at me

inquisitively

and asks, “what nationality”

automatic reply

predictable follow-up

automatic reply

“no, I don’t speak the language”

silence

then the look

pity … no family

then he looks at tiny

“is she your only”

automatic reply

predictable follow-up

automatic reply

“we’re talking about it”

silence

then he looks at me

“she will be lonely …”

nod my head

and look at the floor

and say,

“just don’t know

if I could ever

love another

as much”

he smiles

and says,

“it’s the same.

I have two girls,

and it’s the same love.”

silence

is it

TL

Published inTamiko Lowery