casablanca revisited

Rick knew this blind date
would be no better than the others —
two noisy mosquitoes
trying to drive away the heat
with their wings.
these were not the wings
that took her away from him
but he couldn’t shake the image:
she is on that plane
and is leaving me forever.
an attractive woman waited for him
at the Blue Parrot.
“You must be Rick”, she said.
“I must be”, he replied,
“but I really can’t stay —
please accept my apologies”.
she protested mildly.
he paid for her drink.
she grabbed her purse
and disappeared into the dust.
he bought a bottle of bourbon
and flew back to Paris.