Park benches and red dresses


from the ABC set second chance

Sit on a park bench,
(short reprise)
watch sparrows
scrabble.

Watch children
play, the mothers
delighted, sometimes
not.
Watch, waiting for
what? Old age,
enlightenment, a
(begged)
cigarette?

Remember ages,
different times;
ones with
a breathlessness
nearly akin
to hope

When the cost
of moving limbs
was negligible,
unconsidered.
Was there ever?

Sun warms backs,
ahh ! for
the touch of skin
slightly glistening
like hers,
never again.

Never again.

Wearing a red dress,
halterneck.

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