Here’s another character study, starting with the words.

Maria Alejandra Velasquez Restrepo – voice
Brenda Lohrenz – keyboard
Buff Allen – drums

~*~*~*~*~*~

Again we meet in our old haunt, the coffee shop
Recount events that fill our days, o’er latte leaves
Each wrapped in our own circumstances, cares and needs.

We peel pre-formed vignettes from well-worn surfaces,
Fashion faux pleasant lives, nibbling napoleons.
Through steam and clatter strains a tinge of Glass Onion.

Our paths once weekly intersect;
Together now, but separate;
In brief embrace, we overlap;
Retreat to seats placed opposite.

Then one us dares to suggest the game of bridge.
Into the formal bids, we fold our covert plans
With layered intent, played out across opponents’ hands.

Now evening yields shared purpose with its counted scores.
Intrigued, we test each other’s keyhole clefts to grasp
Faint secrets interleaved between the cards we cast.

Our paths once weekly intersect;
Together now, but separate;
In brief embrace, we overlap;
Retreat to seats placed opposite.

At last, the waxing sun has stripped stale winter snow,
Stark earth laid bare again in warm fecundity.

Our weekly tryst: you shed your winter coat, let slip
Your shift, reveal beneath, a glimpse of secret flesh.

Last evening’s bridge success still glows, your eyes invite
then penetrate: at last, reserve’s unraveling.

Our paths once weekly intersect;
Together now, but separate;
In brief embrace, we overlap;
Retreat to seats placed opposite.

Our weekly rhythm weaves a spell,
It weaves with fine and finer twine:
Approach, engage then pull away.
This time the incantation binds.