i was never late

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.