It was 1965 and my
mother’s office was giddy
over their first Xerox machine.
I rode the bus downtown.
Mom bought chicken, donuts
with chocolate icing
and cokes at Woolworth’s
lunch counter and we
ate on a bench
by the reflecting pool
at city hall.
It was the best day.
Later she made a copy
of my face
on the new machine.
I kept it for a long time.
I looked anxious and unsure,
eyes clenched
and fearful of new things.