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pete
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Crowded streets, cold air, and wet feet
outside in the mild winter night
dark without despair,
but in the light without new years cheer.
Sitting alone,
drink warming hands,
wishing for another
to dance the night away with
Headphones drown out the bustle
a book the cares
and with coffee as the only friend
she finds the heroine in tears
Darkest stars lie in wait
hidden back behind the night's blanketed clouds
and there holding her life
safe to keep.
Black, black hair hides the silent tears
jacket fastened close to ward off the warmth
and moments of lingering desire come
scared, filthy, and self-aware
fitting the night's lonely hand in hers,
and taking without care.
Another moment
lost just in time
her silent sighs fading
behind her darkened skies.
Hustle and bustle drive him aside,
darkened streets, muffled greetings
and a frozen heart to the beggar's cry.
Shuffling through snow and slush,
crisp hands, cool eyes, cold heart
he walks alone
set against the world in its moment of joy
set alone, together waiting with strangers
in a world of loners.
Moments pass in the shop's subtle warmth
waiting, and snaking ever forward
silent eyes glisten
as the night's fog and ice fade.
Settling in, drink in hand,
he reads of the worlds sorrows
set near the window,
but safely guarded from the revellers' joys
by a black haired stranger
and a thick pane of glass.
Without a care she notices
unaware
pausing in her thoughts
studying absentmindedly
with a stranger's eye
the young man settled to her right.
But external chaos interferes
as the early drunk calls loudly
at his evening arrest
and her concerns, in disgust, in silence,
again return to the heroine's lonely plight
and the pages turn.
He can't help but feel
the close-caught terror and joy
of nearby beauty
that fills the air
he can't help but sigh at the distance
so far - so short
so near - so close
at the distance between his seat
self-aware
and hers
self-absorbed.
The night explodes in joy and light
in applause and cheer
in booze and life.
sequestered away she sighs again,
catching, in the corner of her eye,
his acknowledging grin
as if to say, so she sees,
that she is not alone
but is again caught in herself
so far far away.
The moments pass,
the hour clear, still early
still silent, still within her own broken hearted glee,
caught watching
caught watched
caught alone
caught struck.
Who will hear her silent cries?
who will take her,
shake her alive?
what moments are these,
quiet, caught, lost
in the coffee shop's silent lights?
She's alone in this crowd of loners,
blocking out the talk---never thought---
with musical blots.
Hiding behind that straight black hair,
safe from any,
from all,
intruding stares.
And cares.
She sits silently following the heroine's plot
and is lost without her self
within herself.
The shop closes,
early and alone,
the shop closes,
empties and clears.
Sent into the night,
two lonely strangers apart
caught together in the door,
caught in the other's eyes
Caught and lost, and found.
Words thoughts loves
pass in silence
community formed
embraced
withheld.
The slush runs through her shoes
as the night's darkness sweeps her away
and his world narrows as he stumbles
up the street
through the crowds of merrymakers and delight.
Apart in spirit, and in body
but together in cause,
walking away to sleepless beds
in darkened rooms
to brood and gloom,
caffienated and alone,
in silent tears
of near forgotten strangers
and simple greetings never heard.
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071231
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