seeing an old friend
one you haven’t seen in a while

a cigarette after a long while
a star map, wondering, gazing after a long while

a sadness dating back to when you cut
your brother’s hair in that tiny windowless apartment bathroom as a kid

a sadness as the hair grows over your baby girl’s ears,
growing is a sadness

a sadness and a loneliness
like at a concert when the band exclaims
“this is a sad song”

and you drunkenly cheer, “sadness!”
out loud to a crowd who gobbles it up

maybe they’re kindred spirits
sad, and cold

a sadness only winter knows
like an old friend

and a new one
that’s moved on because it isn’t their turn
for such sadness