070. The Widower Poem by Jaden Knight

The slow turning fan sucks up
yesterday’s stale cigarette smoke
hanging like a mist
a solitary customer sits at the bar
drinking his only pint of the day

The landlord completely ignores him
except if he wants another drink
casually smoking away
keeping the silence between the two
broken only by the fruit machine
chiming out its tune
oblivious to its surroundings

The man doesn’t bother to speak
just stares deep into his beer
remembering how it once was
before he lost his wife
five years before

He walks through the rain
the weather matching his mood
stopping at the church yard to visit his wife
to plant another flower at the head stone
and to say another prayer

Back at home with no one for company
the man prepares for bed
hoping tomorrow will be different
when he knows it will be the same