The waitress brought
the old lady a cake
(chocolate by the way)

When she left
the lady reached in her purse
pulled out a candle
planted it in the icing
lit it.

Watching the flame burn
sitting alone
she started to clap
clap
clap

That’s when the waitress returned
clapping too
clap
clap

One by one customers
encircled the table
clapping too
clap
clap

The restaurant rocked
with clapping
clap
clap

’til one by one
everyone gave
the old lady a kiss

I don’t know if this video is true
(Truth is elusive in 2023)
I want to believe that
life presents poems to poets
like presents to the homeless
They mean so much more that way