Anna Aronin Had Told My Father

when my father opened the door
to the backyard
he saw this young woman
drying her hair

and he hesitated.
she was looking down
and he didn’t want to
startle her

finally he said,
Miss,
and slowly she looked
up

Miss, he repeated,
would you know where
we could find a scaffold,
we’re painting Rimback’s garage?

her hair lay down to the ground,
she looked at my father and the
golden thicket shone in
the morning light

they spoke and smiled
at each other, and my
father was
smitten