HOPEFUL LITTLE SECTIONS CUT OUT

by Fred Aiken

the moment’s been deflated and looks like 
it’s been kicked in the face one too (two) many times,
while a french woman in an abaya smokes in the corner,
providing unnecessary, yet relevant commentary
in a language that seems strangely familiar,
though no one really tunes in,
glazed over nakedness holding in a breath
filled with nitrous oxide