Do not share an umbrella
with someone you have
just met.
Hard enough to do the dance
with your best friend
or sister.
One walks too fast,
the other too slow;
the umbrella is always
too small.
And of course
the handsome stranger
will be much taller,
rendering the umbrella
almost useless against
blowing rain.
Especially do not walk
under a tree with low
hanging branches
waiting to dump water
all over your face
so that
when you reach the coffee shop
together
you have to towel off
with tiny napkins
and hope
he stills thinks you are cute
with the frizz rising
on your curly hair
and muddy street water
soaking your rolled up
pant cuffs.