One Frankfurter

one night I bought a hot dog at Circular Quay
at those places that stay open

one frankfurter or two he asked
I said one frankfurter
no butter with sauce
I paid $2.50 and took it to the rail
facing the water

it was so good
like a hot dog used to taste
and I thought of my father
because if he had been there
he would’ve bought it for me
and also because it was his 10th yohrtzeit
meaning anniversary of his death

the ferries were coming in
and going out again
there was a kind of sweet loneliness
standing alone at the dark water
eating the hot dog that my father
would have bought me

there was nothing
for me to worry about
there was no one
that I must try and meet
while I ate the hot dog

it was so good
I hadn’t had one for years
and when I finished it
I went back for another one

he said
one frankfurter no butter with sauce?