he's here now

Rising with the dust on one’s face
solution comes from a distant place
the tears dried the napkin discarded
the heart and soul carefully guarded

he has a laugh that breaks the calm
he has an aura that shields all harm
his lips like fire summoning her sterility
she looks up takes notice shuns humility

time is short love is wasting
take a sip of what he’s tasting
count quarters on the beer soaked table
pinching pennies to pay his fable

she smiles only once in seven years
he walks in unannounced to gather arrears
she stands but over time has become blind
the moment has arrived to pay that fine

rising from despair the air gets clear
her body fragile as he comes near
a single touch in a night so bleak
an opening given so she may speak

whispers of where has he been
when she was emptied from within
no questions of why and how
he reaches in murmuring I’m here now.