Going through backdoors leading somewhere else. Down dark alleys to the light in her eyes. My heart brought me here – not a moment too soon. Now, it’s somewhere past 4:00 a.m. The jazz clubs have called last call, and newspaper bundles haven’t yet been delivered to the all-night corner newsstands. She’s around the block and up a flight of wooden stairs. What’ll I find there? A pack of smokes, dirty jokes, and a Tuesday Weld movie on a black and white TV screen. Before nighttime fades away, the first light of dawn reminds me to go on and climb the stairs to her, and realize against all odds my heart finally knew the way.
Russell C. Smith
2022