He cooked for himself; never forgetting me
An English breakfast; an egg and sausages
His habit to set a spare on a kitchen counter

Love wasn't the word
Uncategorized, he made it a home

A home —
If my slippers broke, there was a pair of new
If he left for Christmas
Food was frozen until New Year's Eve

I danced our way home
He still walked behind me
Still he carried my grace

—

Twenty was fifteen years ago
Twenty, he never forgot
Packs of cigarettes
Always smoky in the background