Reservation for Two

Late at night I was shown to my table. 

In the sky, golden pebbles 

speckled a black beach.

Our dining table was set modestly,

a white cloth fell to the sand. 

We mostly dined in silence there on the shore. 

The earth wanted to hear winter 

coming in with the wind, 

hear thunder roll over the jetty. 

I leaned in once to touch my food

but felt out of the mood.

My fork shivered, 

so I put it down.

The Earth noticed.

I don’t know how to start I said.