Her Preparations Poem by Raj Dronamraju

Watching through the restaurant window from my table
I see her park in front but she does not get out of her car at first
She looks in the rearview mIrror and prepares herself
Touches up her hair, daubs powder on her chin and cheeks, lipstick applied with a smack of lips in completion, eyeliner refreshed - lines drawn over a second time

I tease her gently when she comes in the restaurant
We look at menus and we both laugh at her polite embrassment

Not a girlfriend, not a lover
Fond nonetheless
Stops before it starts as a lunch is goodbye
Still prepare beauty for the show

These preparations for a ritual of differing lengths of time
Depending on the two people involved
I watched her make an effort before entering the scene
For my eyes and keeping in mind what I thought