Jody Zolli

"I´ve been," he grinned,
"On a pizza date with an angel..."

Smirkingly he divulged
His disanchovied exploits
Over the payphone

(Beside a muttering man
Who cradled cream soda
In the crook of his arm
And sported tattoos of tarantulas
On his burly knees)

The phone surrendered nine shrill rings
(One for each time she´d called his name)
As he stranded it without change

Sunshine followed his smoke
(Residual pepperoni lacing the menthol cloud)
Into the small cafe
Where he christened his concerns
With a cup of iced coffee
No sugar, no cream
And no words spared the bouffant waitress
To explain his musing cheshire cat grin