He’s sitting in the window
stitching his minutes together
at the sewing machine.
The lights from the pet shop
are blinking in his direction
while the whiff of gherkins
pours in from the burger bar.
The world stomps past him
on busy feet. A fresh set of toes,
only two months into their job,
slow his eyes to a stop.
He waves a well worn hand
with the patience of thread
finding a needle. He is met
with the point of a miniature finger
to push his cheeks into a smile.

© Carl Burkitt 2022