795

he’s filling up his cup
from a bottle in the cabinet
and is searching for ice
in an empty container

playing cards at a cafe
with two men he met
on the patio
who were off for lunch
he loses all his hands
and sticks around
to shuffle the cards
when the other men
get their things

picks his teeth with a toothpick
lights a cigarette with a match
struck on the table
stone and rough hewn
it’s an old part of town
with potholes
that eat tires
and leave the place
mostly empty

he writes a letter
after fixing a painting
on the wall
the owner doesn’t complain
just watches the regular
do what he does every other day