He sits with cane looped over his arm
turns to join a conversation
he heard ‘rattlesnake’
launched an explanation
how a sidewinder chased his friend
how toxic they can be when young.
He tells me –
sitting three stools away
wondering why I order my BLT with toast
that scrapes my gums –
how he lived in a canyon in Washington
where a bald eagle cruised the river
scooping a fish
only to have it stolen by an ospry.
He lingers in his chair,
whipped cream collapses on his chocolate shake.
His eyes fade with why he had to move here
and he tells me
there are things you miss.
~ Sue Cauhape moved to Truckee twelve years ago with her husband, Jeff, and daughter, Valerie. She currently works at the Truckee Library and hasself-published a book of poetry, ‘When the Horses Come and Go‘ which is available at local bookstores.
