Bruxelles

Andrew Scheinfeld
he/him
2020

“C’est bien Monsieur”  
Exhausted 
My oral exam over 
I drifted outside 
Into a bright Spring 
sunlight 
Euphoric 
I walked the cobbled 
streets 
Toward Avenue Louise 
Where the trams 
Weaved their way 
Toward the “Bois de la 
Cambre
” 
Opposite to les 
Chocolatieres 
Was a quaint hotel.  
Curious and happy 
I walked the lobby 
Toward a green garden 
And it’s hidden café 
White tablecloths 
And fragrant flowers 
Backdrop to 
A young pretty waitress 
Who said “Bonjour” 
I sat down 
A disheveled student 
Out of place 
Amidst the elegant diners 
My heavy bag of books 
A quiet companion 
Lunch was delicious 
And my waitress 
Beautiful 
I shyly asked her 
Tu aime bien le cinema?” 
She replied “bien sur” 
Afterward 
I walked to my favorite 
Parc de poche 
Where I watched 
And listened 
As old men 
In berets 
Played bocce 
Until twilight 

A memory poem of medical school in 1977.