"Hello, My Love."
                        His whisper lingers in my mind. 
"I love you." 
                        I can smell him ~ his cologne, his body.
"I want you."
                        The cheap cigar of an old child.
"Come close, let me touch you."
                        His hands are warm and rough, making me shiver.
"Hold me."
                        The look in his eyes is desperate.
"Good-bye, I'm sorry"
                        And he turns and walks away,
                                                                        saying nothing.

alli feb 92
modified july 98