Coffee, Bagel and Time

With walker support he enters the door He’s there every day, from 10 to 4. Orders coffee and bagel’d cream-cheese Then sits there for hours with hands on his knees. He sits near the window and watches his past Within his mind as old shadows cast His vague recollections of sweet reverie Which only his fading memories see A smile now and then becomes his vaccine Against reality’s attempt on the scene To interrupt the flow of the past Which for decades he worked to amass. Loneliness he constantly wears as a coat His only companion: memories remote. So … solemnly, quietly he spends his days He rewinds his memories into replays Aged and wrinkled thin hands so frail Around 4 o’clock his walker assail Again he shuffles out the front door Tomorrow … he’ll return, and be there once more.