Easy trip from Leon to Houston
then so many people
we missed our flight.
United put us on an hour later
bumped to first class
we spent the flight
drinking champagne, eating not pretzels
but first class cheese board dinner,
talking to our stewardess Leontine.
Her father greee eyed Creole from New Orleans
went to work in a Colorado factory.
Mother at 16 took the train by herself
from Mexico to Colorado
got a job in the factory couldn’t speak English
harassed by other employees.
Father came to her rescue they fell in love
learned each other’s languages
had three daughters. Leontine herself
married three times
three children 11 grandchildren
22 great grandchildren so far.
A man friend now.
When I bring desert
I’ll tell you the rest
she said.
strangers quickly become not strangers, if we let them
so many living stories all around us...!