by Charles Troob
For Richard Hogan, 1936-2017
He filled the kettle
ground the beans
found a chunk of butter
in a corner of the fridge
selected a scarf
from the stack heaped on a closet hook
swirled it around his neck
chose a jacket to go with the scarf
and the shirt and the boots
and the ratty jeans
checked the mirror
made a few adjustments
added another scarf
said “O-la”
sailed out the door
then crossed the street
to charm the women at La Bergamote—
returning with fresh rolls…
and perhaps a croissant
My dear friend Richard Hogan encouraged everyone to be creative. He loved my writng, and always asked me to read it aloud to him.