by early eve
he'd amble down
in boxer trunks
his cigs in hand
he sat to smoke
before his swim
a pleasant nod
would meet my gaze
and then he swam
a sluggish crawl
a dozen laps
before he quit
a few more cigs
until we closed
a word or two
for all who passed
and in my case
an offer made
a letter sent
to aid my goal
now decades hence
I think of him
his kindness lives
within my soul
