The Fortune Teller offers answers on Saturday night

by Grace Marie Grafton

Believe me, they'd be different if it were

Sunday dinner or Wednesday choir practice

but I see you have your black pumps on I suppose

there's a garter of some hula-hula color up your

leg. You want to know about Prince Charming or

at least a cute-enough guy who can dance the salsa

or take you for a drive in his convertible car with

the top down and some contemporary version of

Frankie or McCartney singing the song.

You're riding the wrong carousel, Honey,

Saturday night's a poker game that's gone

bust for anyone who wants a part in the serious

show, at least for a modern woman. Take my

word for it (and that's what you're paying me for)

you'll do better building bridges or being a scholar

of medieval medical practices. At least there's

undeniable material there for a block buster best

seller and you're always going to need a back-up

income if you want to contribute to the gene pool.

You deserve to choose to be a mother.

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Grace Marie Grafton is the author of six collections of poems, most recently 'Jester,' published by Hip Pocket Press. She has taught thousands of children to write poetry through her work with CA Poets in the Schools.