cherry eyelids dart
into frail english
quick wrists
walking a few inches below

I go to grab ice and see you washing pots
steam rising to your masked face
making conversation over the noise
don't hear a thing but nod in your smile

taking orders with
missing holes in my shirt
rows of sandpaper graze my fingers as I
wait for a red badge

shoes strapped and *****
warm air hits
sitting and reading
in the dingy light