early morning streets
empty of their fare
cool gray pavement steps
alongside golden hair
she lets me hold her hand
we talk of love and trouble
i listen to her woes
understanding of her struggle
’round the corner, hold the door
she enters first and then i follow
the coffee shop’s serene
the patrons’ eyes tired and hollow
a smile through cat-eye glasses
as she nibbles at a muffin
the coffee’s iced and sweet
reflective of our brief discussion
back outside along the pavement
hands are full now, such a pity
for this woman’s touch is magic
in the downtown of the city
