i saw hitler driving a truck today
and remembered the last time
he was over to dinner
how he laughed in his wine glass
completely sober or a little tipsy
(it’s hard to tell with him)

he told me his best secret that night –
with wistful eyes he murmured
“i’ve never seen a falling star.”
and as he nodded in time
to shostakovich on the radio, he added
“and i’ve never danced in the rain.”

i raised my glass in mock salute
and proposed a toast to regrets
as some wine spilled over the rim

licking the redness from my fingers
i wondered if he knew
what kind of messiah he really was