On this advent morning, a stranger and I waited at the light.
Both bundled in hat and mitts, we crossed together,

he, pulling his rolling suitcase, I carrying my mat
under my arm. “You didn’t sleep on that?” he asked. Speechless,

I walked past the library and arriving at my car,
looked at myself in the rear-view mirror, and–enlightened–

wondered whether teeth whitener might improve my appearance.