Black Lead in a Nancy Meyers Film

Aging, at all. I want that. And to fall

perhaps most honestly in love

beside the ocean, in a home I've paid

for by doing as I like: drinking good

wine, dusting sugar over a croissant, or

the stage play I'm writing myself into.

Aging Black woman in neutral summer

turtleneck. Known. And jogging. Lonesome

enough. Eating homemade lavender

ice cream, the moon blooming

through the kitchen window. The distant

sound of waves. Learning

French as a second language.

Votre pâte merveilleux,

I smile back.

And then, just like that! Falling, cautiously,

for my busy, middle-aged lover,

who needs me, but has never truly seen me

until now. Our Black friends, celebrating

with hors d'oeuvres. Our Black children

growing older.