Apparition

He reeks
Of age and stale booze;
She fights her gag reflex,
Appearing not to notice.

His face,
As rough as the glass-strewn sidewalk
Where he lays,
Scratches her delicate palm
As she strokes

Undaunted she remains

He sputters
Wracked with convulsions
She dares not wipe from her lovely face
The spit and sweat of his frenzy

His fingers
caked with grime
yellow-stained from borrowed cigarettes
cracked from cold and neglect
bowed; joints stiff and swollen
She caresses the stone-cold hands in hers.

His eyes bloodshot
and devoid of lustre
Fight hard
to focus on her gaze
The pity he sees there
Stirs in him
The hint of a smile

Before sleep captures him,
A fleeting memory flashes
of bedtime prayers recited
decades ago
A sparkle dances
In a tear he sheds

Wrapped in her embrace.