He shakes his silvered head
like an old stallion comprehending
little but oats and sugar cubes.
Gaiety surges around tables:
white water roaring past
giant solitary boulders.
Servers bring salads, cheeses
lasagnas, chicken, roast boar—
tastebuds decline, overwhelmed.
A tango brings suits and gowns
suddenly animate to the floor
grannies rock chairs in rhythm.
Words crash against walls of sound
come in spurts like short wave radio:
politics, health, squirrels at feeders.
He remembers shaking his shiny mane
sharing nuzzled confidences,
warm sun instead of this winter.
