Love Poem: Cheap Hellos
William Coyne Avatar
Written by: William Coyne

Cheap Hellos

. for public domain

I know her through the cheap hellos,
shared taxi cabs, subways below,
strolling in the fresh fruit aisle,
shared bench for lunch, a sidewalk smile,

but not like I knew my sisters,
their blistered toes, and bathroom woes,
heartaches from a stolen kiss,
and sorrows from our dead parents.

We old neighbors have been pleasant,
civil, helpful, ever present,
with eyes where joy is often absent,
lives and love somehow misspent.