a romantic night

you have a romantic
evening alone at home.
you position yourself
in front of the tv
with a plate of scrambled
eggs and bacon
on the coffee table. you've
added cheddar cheese because
after all it's friday night.
you have orange juice
too. the kind with pulp.
you like pulp.
a baseball game is on,
but you have it on mute.
the announcers
annoy you. instead you
have al green on the stereo.
that's right. the stereo. no
no lousy new age gizmo
for me. i'm tired of being
alone al sings in that
sweet soulful wail. you
turn off the lights and
put a couple of candles
out, but you can still see
the pile of laundry in
the middle of the floor
that you might fold.
you take a bite of toast
then get up and dance
to the kitchen. maybe
you need just a shot of
vodka in that oj.