a day with Linda (1986)

we took our shoes off
walked the Euclid Creek
throwing rocks into the water
careful not to get too wet

afterwards, I drove her
to a new, used book shop
in an old, mildewy building

she browsed novels
while I looked through "Religion"

when we got back to her place
I gave her back her copy
of Somerset Maugham's, "The Razor's Edge"
I had read the epigraph –
“The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over;
thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard."
but not much more of it

she asked if I would like
to come upstairs
look through old photos
I declined, saying, "Thanks"
and "I have to go"
returned to my car
and drove home