the waitress at Denny's

as young Turks,

we'd roll

the dice when going out,

hunting.

searching

for love,

or something resembling love

at least for the night.

cologne

was important, as

was

hair.

a clean shirt, blue

jeans

and decent shoes

to dance in.

a pocket full of cash

was part of it too.

we'd close most places

down

in Georgetown.

then

drive up

to 19th street

to the Sign of the Whale,

or Flaps,

or Numbers.

trying our luck

out there. and if there was

no luck,

there was Denny's

on the way home.

eggs and bacon, coffee

and hashbrowns,

maybe a waitress with long

blonde hair.