Strangers in the Night

i didn't know

anyone

at the wedding. they didn't

know

me, but somehow the woman

who i was about

the meet for

the first time wrangled

a plate

and a seat for me.

she drove in from Richmond

to sit at the piano

and sing

to the bride and groom,

who happened to be,

Jimmy and Frank.

one being 25 years older

than the other.

two fellows who met at a

club downtown

called the Rodeo.

i put on my best suit,

my best tie

and shirt, my shiniest shoes.

and sat

there eating cake

as my date

sang Strangers in the Night

to me.

as a gift,

she brought me an enormous

chocolate bar

with nuts

from the candy shop she worked

in. sadly,

like so much in life,

it melted in the car.