How to tell her?
I was in town in late Spring.
Having a beer. Met a woman, and she said
she needed a ride to San Francisco.
She was a painter.
I told her about my work,
and she was very interested.
Said she knew a dealer who would look at it.
Maybe give me a show.
She was pretty and so different from Gwen.
Sophisticated.
It had been a long winter.

I went home. Packed my things
and left with that woman for San Francisco.

I got a studio in the East Bay.
Shared with a couple of guys.
It was so different.
Seeing all my work. Having space to work.
And I did get an important show.

But as the summer wore on,
I missed the mountains
and Gwen.

Didn't have the courage to call her.
If Sid hadn't told me
she was coming to the wedding party,
I might never have seen her again.

Now she is outside. I can see her sitting in her truck. Trying to decide whether or not to come in, I guess.