Refugees

The ice storm cometh
and knocked out more power
than anyone believed
our ocean-warmed town
flooded with refugees
seeking coffee
wi fi
and warmth

An old college friend
and his wife
camping at Starbucks
laptops, unshowered,
trying to make deadline
but Dave willing to spare
a half-hour
to catch up with me
I had it to give
and so went
expecting friendliness
his good nature
and lunch

Instead in one look
and just past hello
we snapped to
time travel
doubled over by the sidewalk
completely clicked by menus
and the poor waiter
who did not know
what to make of us

We were always
expatriates together
that thing about the boy
and the peaches
in a Bill Cosby accent
so much undone
we drove off the road
our poor passengers
not amused

the time we took
my incredibly serious
Czech exchange roommate
candlepin bowling
the Easter feast
so bad
we bonfired it
when we dyed our hair magenta
at his suggestion
it mattered
and lasted
a little more
on very blond me

Its these rare refugees
that we meet
that take up residence in
our lives
and with their ways
language
and vision
coopt and
transform
the familiar everyday motherland
of we natives
into suddenly
just a host country

Going home
through the long lines
unusual degree of traffic and
disoriented, tired
and dangerous
drivers
I loved them all
rolled down the window
waved to them, and called out -
god bless you refugees
god bless you refugees.