I promise you that I was never late, love
I pinned time to my chest, like tender threads
so I might always find you in the crowd.
it cost me, but I was never late - never left you to pay
the fare you didn’t have.
I gave you the gift I wanted and so
I thought you might understand, love.
And you answered – you were never late
its true - but I never lingered
I always knew you were waiting
and I was always leaving conversations that
had just begun
I never left the corner – I knew
you would worry if I wasn’t there.
down the street from our meeting place
was a bookstore and a coffee shop.
you were never late, I know
but I can’t help but wonder how
my life would have been different
if I just once peeked into those windows
or sat to drink coffee with the young man I noticed
with the smoke in his hair
who read the paper
he had brought and left his coffee
untouched.