She was leaving we were coming in
I told Peggy I would speak to an
Old friend quickly as we passed in
The aisle you know Tommy’s on
Sunday afternoon kind of like
Blood cells in an artery everybody
Going one way or another how
You been she looked at me as if
Do I know you I showed her my
Church badge still on gave her
A card Jim you don’t look at all
Like I remember I explained
About not having to wear glasses
Anymore no it’s the beard when
Did you start to grow it she had
A cheerful face it looked like we
Had some time as waiters exiters
Wadded up toward the booths
How’s your old man I asked
The initial sparkle went out
Of her face he’s tried to kill
Himself several times it’s hard
Right now after that you can’t
Just walk away and say have a
Good one you’ve got to take
Some time to commiserate
Very sorry to hear but there’s
A lot of sadness in families
I sense perhaps you don’t
Know my son Peter took his
Life a couple of years ago
Kept trying till he got good at it
Dumb thing to say I tried to
Wish her better times and a
Good outcome we had to part
She was in a hurry for another
Appointment and I wasn’t offering
The crucial help she was needing
When I got back to the table
Peggy had been given menus
Water told the waitress to come
Back in a minute thanks I said
Buried my nose in the menu
Old friend more Jean’s than mine
Our kids grew up together I
Didn’t mention the tough events
Of her recent days what could
I say I knew no motive health
Work that’s for another time
And place where one can speak
In nuances as they say now I
Know how hard it is lots of
People don’t want to talk about
Such things they’ll nod and let
You go on express their regrets
Hoping they have communicated
Enough and that you will not
Break down right there giving
Them more than they would could
Handle that’s the risk because you
Don’t even know that yourself
Whether this will be the one
Time the scabs peel off and you
Bleed all over again
c. J.S.Manista, 2015
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