Phibby Venable
THE BELMONT

In the city an old man disguised as a friend
was asking the workers if they remembered
seeing him in the basement of the Belmont Motel
Its a small room, he said, but you may have visited
and I have no excuse for being out that day
But the workers said no and I dont recall and one said
wasn't the Belmont replaced by the post office
in the late sixties, seventies?
But the old man changed disguises and turned away
he wept himself into a young man and watched
the streets for his companions and especially for
Lily, she waited tables at the Belmont Restaurant
which should have opened at seven
but he wouldn't mention that, she could be fired
A woman needs time to dress, he said
to himself and several others out early to drop mail