She was sitting at the bar

her eyes were very far

and distant.

Two eyes behind the glass

they knew not how to surpass

the silence.

She knew I had a sip

from the cup of her soul

when I pushed the hair from my eyes and

coughed.

When I discovered her secret,

I looked down

and She looked down and said,

Get up, get on your feet

let me have this dance.

There’s no music

but who cares?

We’ll never meet again

so pretend

that you love me

and I will love you too.

Take me by the hand, she said,

because I don’t need a man

to tell me that he loves me

when I have you.

Her fingernail polish

was the last of her I saw

because her hand slipped out of my hand

before I could tell her

that I was not pretending.