veg chinese Edmonton street lunchtime

...lunch w/ my parents
(two of my role models)
in a sparse,
insider
Chinese veggie place
that they suggested
only b/c
they knew it would
make their son happy

and our last meal
for now
in this city
before we
headed for
our own
separate poles and
i wonder if
i told them
everything i should have and
i know they wonder the
same thing
but it's
all there
anyway and

the most
beautiful woman i'd
ever seen
in my whole life
(and i'm
not exaggerating)
sat at the back
of the cafe
dressed in all
black with a
bright yellow
headband
eating so
gracefully with her
friend and
yet despite her
i still remember
every word
my parents

spoke before we
hugged and
said goodbye for
now

headed off
into the
mixed
blessing of
greyday snows.