He tries not to cling too
Much but does she
Feel what takes wing
Inside him when he
Looks at her?
Ask if they’re ok
Afraid of the answer,
Afraid to even ask
The question
For fear of the answer
He remains apart
Because to become
An open clumsiness
Invites its own defeat
So they breathe one another in
Like a shared cigarette,
He watches her,
Hoping she might see
Or hoping she isn’t
And everything is
OK
Ok?
Ok.