she hugs me then

brings green tea

when i really want

coffee & brandy

glass of red wine

maybe an Alhambra beer

but green tea it is

whatcha’doin?

she asks again

notes on a line i offer

stringing words together

finding the heat

the heart

& letting everything go

struggling then?

she says quiet

as always

my only reply

yesterday today

& probably tomorrow

& when or if

this all comes easy

that’ll be the time to quit