I have placed the white porcelain bowl here
in memory of the Japanese garden at our first house
and adorned it with several of your favorites:
sweet kernels of pistachios, candied walnuts,
roasted almonds, macadamias, chocolate chips,
and a handful of caramel corn
Before you I also present a flute of Champagne,
the effervescence of which, so fresh and heady
in the red light of this special evening,
will tingle up your neck and part your nostrils
Do you still think I am not a very nice person,
an ogre, a creep,
a grouchy old early morning man?
Here then, get a whiff of these three young gardenias
picked from the bush the other side of the roses
and inhale the love for you they carry
Now, what do you think about that,
brown eyes?