Because he was

a dark and handsome Italian

and she was sipping caffé not ‘coffee’

in an outdoor trattoria that was SO

unlike ‘Denny’s,’ boasting red and green umbrellas

which read “ASTI CINZANO” in big white letters,

as he sauntered, not ‘sidled,’ up to her;

she did not deem it inelegant

when he perched, not ‘swooped,’ down beside her

and said, “Ciao, bay-bee” in an ACCENT