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