she lived across the parking lot
when i stepped out for a drink i thought
i heard her reading shakespeare
on her balcony while
dragging on a cigarette

i saw her at a party once
reciting lines
and i was so afraid of alcohol
that i couldn't make a move

so i stood to her left
and she moved to the right
to the music coming out
of the stereo

and she moved to the left
and she moved to the right
and i finally realized i want
to take her home

later in the month we shared a shot
in part from friends who are
prone to find
the subtle navigations of two
minds alike
they couldn't be more wrong
in thinking we would be right

her performance was a masterstroke
and by the time the silence broke
her absinth paranoia couldn't penetrate
the shyness and the shakes
and suddenly she took my hand
and off we ran away from all the politics
of friends that we would never see again