someone was telling me about
his plans to cycle across Europe
detailing the miles between
one city and the next
what he’d wear
exactly what kinda bike
I said put a basket on the front
fill it with apples
and throw them at people as you go
no
he said
but the bike has two paninis
over the front wheel

someone else
was talking about
his grandfather
who fought in the first world war
mine did too
I said
he was in the first hoover battalion
they’d go in
with henrys on their backs
and clean out the trenches
oh he said
that sucks

someone else was telling me
about an old apple orchard
I like climbing trees
I said
but once I’m up
I tend to nest
and you have to poke me down
with a long stick
oh
she said
I’d use the stick to keep you up there