I'm a dragon

"I'm a dragon,"

declares a man at the next table over -

my head turns,

my heart quickens,

my breath sticks in my throat.

"Looks like I'm a monkey,"

one of his companions adds,

and then I remember

the placemats

depicting all twelve animals

of the Chinese zodiac,

each with a list of years.

My breath returns,

and once more

I am alone.

(© 2011 Cassander)