"Incident"

Eyes rise for a moment

from concentration on

newspaper and black coffee.

Hearing her stumble, seeing

her purse opening and lipsticks

rumble-rolling across wooden floor

he is at hand. Was he watching

before; was he praying for a

moment where he could intervene?

Measuring kindness, his hand

resting on her arm, assisting

reaching, retrieving.

Gratefully she stands. Words

unheard exchanged a transaction.

Who knows what could

flow from this moment

where sun pours through

windows, illuminating dust

of first appearance to

where life shall one day

return? In brevity

two souls who otherwise

would not have met

secret universes thrust

together through attraction’s

mutuality. Exchanging,

parting, departing

writing new story.

Wondering what next

choice awaits.

© Phil Kemp 2025