cora––
it’s your birthday
& you’re in hong kong
& i’m in new york.
nevertheless, i’m
going to rub your
feet with oil
as soon as
you wake
up.
then, i’ll insist
that you run
upstairs, to relax
in the steamroom
@ the spa for a
while
before we take
a walk across
town & along the
east river to
Chinatown for
breakfast.
of course, it’s a
workday & you
rush back to the
office.
i come by
to meet you
for a lunch
break & in this
ideal world,
we play
badminton.
the afternoon goes
quickly & i phone
you up to offer
you a birthday
supper.
you ask that i
decide where––
& i tell you it’s a
surprise.
before you know it,
we’re seated
facing the statue
of liberty blessed
with yellow pools
of olive oil &
blossoming red goblets
of wine.
you enjoy the
appetizer, the whole baked
fish & the dessert
with the cappuccino.
soon we’re on our
way––
waltzing up
the hudson in
moonlight––
when you’re in
hong kong &
i’m in new york
on your very
happy
birthday!