ten dollars for a quick bite around the corner
today a daunting order
four a foreign tongue
we two wait
don’t swallow your fortune, she warned
as I eight, hopefully
pried with careful fingers
my pocket tabernacle, a
golden butterfly folded
around a bite of paper.
two me, a plane-trailed banner
maybe it was only chance
that good days followed
but the figures always danced
on my lucky numbers.