While diners converse

behind flower façades

of the outdoor restaurant,

eat under square

umbrellas that linger

for sun to break

through clouds,

pause for rain or drizzle--

you look far off

over the stair-stepped

Quebec city,

wait for the evening

crowd to come,

wait for your

semester grades,

wait for your

girlfriend to make up

her mind,

wait for a cure,

wait. . .