Passing me in the parking lot,
he stopped to tell me he just
broke a tooth above the crown.
“No, seriously, me, too,” I said
then asking if he had a dentist
because I had an appointment
at noon to have the permanent
put on. “No.” “I do. Two blocks
away. Let my dog in the back
seat and I’ll show you where
and then you can drive us back.”
We are about the same age. Teeth
break. He said, “You know we
are lucky to be vertical.” Later
I read a poem about a cat who
when it was time to die went
out into the cold at her own
choosing. I felt a little
jealous of the cat.