A stranger advanced
across the universal chasm
and set her lips and tongue
into calculated motion.
Ordered sound waves
shook my auric drums
and journeyed to my soul.
and out of my reservoir
of social response,
my pliant mouth described a curve
then three puffs of air,
pulsed and filtered
by cords and tongue and lips,
responded to her thoughtful stimulus,
“Thank you, dear.”