more than time
for Skyler
— for what salt air carried and returned —
i know them before sitting
one in
three out
eyes down
always staring
counting coats
porcelain knuckles
tight
veins fully wired
no coffee yet
slow breath
ready
salt edged gusts
kicking purple stained doors
wide open
white china clinks
warm butter slips
scent of browned toast
rising
left
laughter from two
ahead
single man
mobile in hand
jaw tight
swearing under breath
behind
baby crying
not stopping
shoulders lowering slightly
my breath arriving
on salt air
somewhere
warmth arriving
cold leaving fingers
silence lingers
you stand
push the chair away
snap
rubber bands shaking
frozen
half a second
no one moves
tea pours
the baby cries
laughter almost stops
fingers loosening
chest lifting
lightly burnt toast wafting
everything continues
a few steps
a couple more
purple door swinging
outside
tide washing gently
shoreline edges dissolving
harbour walls
holding waves back
a faint mist
clinging
staying on your coat
a single gull hovering
blue
warmer
than before
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All artwork courtesy of NDjin Gallery


Thank you for sharing @PancakeSushi 🫶
Oh this was divine Mark ✨