old poet

in the café
i wanted her to tell
you that brautigan
was not a minor poet
and nobody else
could have written
trout fishing in
america
especially the king
of coney island

but you were too busy
scamming wine from
the usf girls who there
for extra credit
too absorbed texting
their boyfriends
or cared less
who you were
or what you read
or that you were
drinking their wine

but she didn’t tell you
instead she smiled
in respect
for who
she thought
you were