The Poet's Choice

Guys Night Out

I inattentively gaze across the parking lot,
and over neighboring rooftops,
to see a fiery red sky in the west.
My thoughts are focused
on the words of my nearby companion.
We speak of football, baseball, hot cars,
church, and events from earlier days and years,
a typical “guy” conversation.
Relaxing in a cool summer breeze,
we sit on dark green, metal, outdoor chairs
at a small, round, dark green, metal, outdoor table.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee
fills our senses as we sit and drink.
His is a café latte, with a triple shot,
mine is a coffee of the day,
heavily laden with sweetener
and powdered non dairy creamer.
Our chitchat continues uninterrupted
while unknown visitors fill, and empty,
the adjacent chairs and tables.
Time invisibly passes
as we relish our moments together,
two best friends bonding in daylight’s waning hours.
Finally, we take our last sips of coffee,
our cups bone dry.
The hour is late, the sky dark,
and the table and chairs are being put away.
Reluctantly we depart, vowing to meet again
for our next “guys night” out.

As I sit in the chair, with a coffee in hand,
we talk football, baseball, hot cars,
the things of summers past.
We also talk of church, God’s miracles,
and a continued healing from cancer.
I hold the phone tightly to my ear
desperately wanting to be closer
to eradicate the distance between us,
to be there for him in his need.
I’m reminded of the dark green metal furniture
and spending our evenings together.
Here we are again!
Two guys, two best friends, together once more
on a special “guys night” out.

© 2006 by David L. Henkel

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