Catherine and I met

For the first time

Yesterday morning at Beans

During the afternoon

I was sunning

And reading homework

On the balcony,

Listening to Pink Floyd's

Portion of Chron

Ummagumma was up

And I thought about

What reaction

Catherine might have

To "The Narrow Way"

I pictured saying

Something about how

"This amazing complex alien music

Was made 25 years ago!"

This thought reminded me

Of Professor Morbius

Playing the music of

The long-dead Krell race,

Whose achievements still far-outstripped

Those of our starfaring descendents,

For his Terran visitors

In Forbidden Planet

Last night I called Catherine

To ask her if

She was interested in

Seeing the Cocteau Twins

Tomorrow at Symphony Hall

She said yes

And we talked for a while

Right after we hung up

The phone rang

It was Catherine

She wanted to know my last name

I told her and asked her hers

She spelled it out: K-R-E-L-L