Mahalo

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