it's a concept the powerful created
that age demands respect
but while riding the grocery store elevator i suspect
that it's only another delusion against death

a dark beautiful lady gets on board
and glances at me exactly three times
ever since i took care of my long hair lice
the women have been flocking to me in elevators

she asked me to press the second floor button
and i almost said that her gentle voice may make me love again
after the accident so many years ago between the yellow algerian sky and the red sand
but instead i merely said that it was my favorite floor

she smiled, but didn't look at me any more
and so ended another promising elevator romance.
years from now, alone in a mansion by the fire, i'll remember the chance
that i ruined, but didn't waste, when a beautiful woman asked for a favor