his voice was barely
discernable above
the hum and drum
of the coolers,
and patrons,
of the convenience store,
as he answered,
“Yes, that will be all.”
His new caramel-colored suit fit loosely,
as if to allow room to grow,
for more days like today
for his blue-eyed youth to endure.
he handed me a twenty
and as I made change,
his eyes and heart looked
out the ad-stained, glass doors
across the road,
into the cemetery,
at the tent straddled
over a cold, stone tablet,
with someone’s name
he knew too well.
as he left, I wondered
who it was he missed so
and if he was going back
to be a little closer,
just once more.
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