the place was set
but no one came

she waited for an hour
and then she ate
pistachio and pumpkin
chestnuts and white truffles

outside the rain

the waitress was kind
and left her to her pain

the other diners
pretended she
was not alone
and smiled at
the lonely woman
sitting by herself

French restaurants in fall

the opera crowd
with season tickets

the sommelier

the taste of taro on her tongue

the bitter root of love denied

coffee and a sweet dessert

she paid the price

outside the rain