I go to pick her up.
she’s on some errand.
she always has errands
many things to do.
I have nothing to do.
she comes out of her apartment
I see her move toward my car
she is barefooted
dressed casually
except for huge ear rings.
I light a cigarette
and when I look up
she is stretched out on the street
a quite busy street
all 112 pounds of her
as beautiful as anything you might
imagine.
I switch on the radio
and wait for her to get up.
she does.
I flip the car door open.
she gets in. I drive away from the
curb. she likes the song on the radio
she turns the radio up.
she seems to like all the songs
she seems to know all the songs
each time I see her she looks better
and better
200 years ago they would have burned her
at the stake
now she puts on her
mascara as we drive
along.
Other works by Charles Bukowski...
