Like Winter

I don’t care what you say
there is a beauty in this
old men in bars on
weekday afternoons
while the world outside
sweat and aches
with the doing of things
inside these walls
time moves slow
and we have all the
necessary things
smoke and drink
and silence
a little talk and some
gentle laughter
all of us hiding
from something
waiting for yesterday’s love
and tomorrow’s unemployment checks
Sinatra is on the jukebox
and the bartender steps outside
to smoke and she leans
against a lamppost saying
it smells like winter
and I do believe
she’s right.


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