She approached me after services
and, like so many before her,
invited me for next shabbes dinner.
And when she asked how I’d find my way,
like so many before me,
I said I’d follow her after shul.
So on Thursday I went to the deli,
like so many before me,
and bought a box of rugallach.
And she went to the hairdresser,
like so many before her,
and got her nails done too.
And there we were after shul,
like so many before us,
with dessert, a perm and nail polish
walking down the street
with our lives ahead of us.
Johannesburg
June 2002