Time to move. Time to move.

Richard’s Brother

In the diner alone:
tea
with lemon and honey.
A plastic bag,
a plastic trash bag rolled shut
clasped in a hand,
laid to rest
next to you
beneath your coat.
What do you keep in that bag?

I’m Richard’s brother.
Tea with lemon and honey.
She forgot my bag.
The tea bag.
What is in the
black bag? Do not forget that.
More hot water please.

Hello to you passing busboys.
Hello to the waitresses not his own.
To those with something recognizble,
I’m Richard’s brother.
Blegian waffle. Strawberries
and whipped cream.
Syrup on the whole thing.
More hot water please.
And another bag.
Another tea bag,
for Richard’s brother.

No car. Just a man and
a crumpled plastic trash bag
on the rain colored pavement.
Side of the road walking.
No shadow. Is the shadow
that bag? Not a time for shadows,
keep it till the time is right.

You see that shadlow-less man?
The one with the black bag and
a stomach full of tea?
That’s Richard’s brother.
But I don’t know any Richard.