how late we working?

there are gaps
in his life,
dark holes of memory,
where he lived,
what happened, when,
there is
a blank spot on his brain
where nothing
is remembered.
some teeth are missing.
there's a scar
on his arm,
the smudge of a tattoo
blue
green on his neck.
a girl's name.
he says he's turning over
a new leaf
though,
getting things together,
he says this while
taking out a cigarette
and lighting it,
letting the smoke flow
through his nose
like an old dragon.
he sits down on the stoop.
says, how
late we working today.
I have a court date at 3.
he unties the rubber band
that holds back his
hair,
then ties it again,
letting the pony tail
fall to his shoulders.