Crumpled map

They gave you a crumpled map
written in another language and
expected you to make it on time.

Not that you wanted it. Not
that you were planning on meeting
them anywhere, but finally

you find yourself in front
of that restaurant, half an hour
late, out of breath, wearing

the wrong clothes, staring
inside where they sit, laughing
at something only they can hear.

They see you finally looking
at them and you crumple. You
are the stars who see everything

but know nothing about any
of it. They look at you and
they don’t know you after all,

it was a mistake they made.
They thought you were someone
else. They return to each other

and you return
to the street, to the night
sky, quietly, alone.