at the diner

your waitress
comes by the table
with the coffee pot
and smiles, she says
can I top that ccup
off for you.
sure you tell her.
you have not known
such kindness
from a woman in so
long that it
frightens you.
you see how easily
it is for you to
fall in love, you
almost reach out to
touch her hand
as she pours, but
you don't. you stir
in the sugar,
you add cream,
you read the paper.