They pay me

You come trudging along
Lugging your baggage as always
Smiling with your dancing eyes
But solemn in greeting

I watch as you
Unpack, stack everything neatly
Turn over to embrace me
Change

Walks that we take
Across the city
Gambling in the notion of being seen
Absent from the thoughts of those we know

I fire up
And tear down
Past the railway stations
Lewd laughter ringing my way
And the whispers down the darkened corridors
How I've lived with them

You pay me a last glance and
Retreat with the rest of the crowd
And I watch as you leave
Watch for the trickling specks of light
Darting from your darkest hair

I wait
Until they pay me again