he just wants to talk

he just wants

to talk,

this old guy.

this old man shuffling,

an iceberg

moving

across the room.

he sits,

i sit.

we talk, well, he talks

and i nod,

i listen.

he's lonely. he has

his wife,

but he's still lonely.

he wants to talk

about things he can't

talk with

his wife about.

i get it. i give him an

hour. he tells me about

the work he used to do,

the army,

Rhode Island,

his children.

it's a long hour,

then i look

at my watch and tell

him, i have to go.

he shows me to the door,

i wait for him

as he moves along,

one step

after the other.

he has more to say, more

to tell me.

but he understands.

i have to go.