jollier than most

he used a cane
wore a captain’s hat
had the bulbous nose of a drunk

yet I never smelled
it on his breath or heard
him lose his cool

he’d arrive late
in the day as if he knew better
than to spend
himself on gambling yet couldn’t
deny the beauty
of running horses

he also had
a hole in his nose

sometimes bandaged

usually not

& for weeks

after it was stitched
it seemed to be
healing

then one day
it was far
wider
& bordered
by redness seemingly
eating his skin

& violet patches shone

on the rest
of him & he leaned
so hard on that cane I lost
interest in my Form &

he didn’t greet or wink at
any of us

didn’t toss out his five
for the feature
at Belmont

just sat
breathing in the corner
used by strangers

then heaved himself

up & walked
out for good as we
respected him with glances
away