He said his name was Prometheus
and only wished peace for us
a loosechange beggarman
with a lost smile
an empty stomach
and eye on the corner liquor store
I poured some silver into his cupped hand
and watched his eyes
as he counted each blessing
thank you man ...
thank you
and I thought of you
and this green T-shirt I am wearing
Kona
a souvenir from the Big Island
you were away for a month
time filled with 2 A.M. phone calls
and postcards of empty black sand beachs
you in a mood
Kids , broken plans and irritable volcanoes
you returned and you brought Mum flowers
and smiled as you gave me this shirt
and as I tried it on
I said Mahalo
and you looked at me funny
and I realized
you never learned to say it
never learned it's meaning
such a simple little word
Mahalo
copyright 2011 Robin Christopher Amaral