At Miracle Hot Springs: Poem by Miriam Sagan

At Miracle Hot Springs

the old lady
with the Russian accent
in the becoming
2-piece bathing suit
and the huge hat
asks what I’m
reading—an uncracked
hardback thriller

she thinks
I’m taking notes
on the book—hopefully
a dark and provoking
tome of philosophy
or Dostoevsky
but I say no
although I can’t quite explain
I’m writing
about how the pools
beneath palm trees
will be
even more beautiful
when the moon comes up
and also about her
the old Russian lady
in the very large straw hat