I keep this “secretly/desirably” simple (make everything in past tense):

I break into the fragile snowflakes as I pass the same dodgy

mate in all his glory. I admire his reddish socks, adoring

the feather on his beige chapeau. Who bloody cares about

tonight’s full eclipse? I still worship the virgin moon

as I wander under it with scattered thoughts. I stumble

along, growling and shaking. I’m lost. I’m found. I

repeat, “but I don’t feel down.” My companion tonight

is the taxi driver from Ghana. His random smile,

his ring tone, melt my hijacked heart; rescue

me from the nonsense terms that translate

into what we both learnt as lies.

Impatient, fearless, intoxicated;

I play tonight’s song, and smile

big at our (long) overdue

yet predictable

rendez-vous.

To be continued…

S