Loneliness

Today I saw an old man

Walking with laboured steps

The weight of breathing heavy on his grey jacket

Sun beamed happiness on briskly stepping walkers

Phones pressed to closed ears, suit jackets bared against April winds

Smiles turned away,

Involuntarily or

Otherwise

From the gentle frown carved into his weathered skin, rough like a lizard’s

But I watched

And there was something so gravely saddening

In the way he walked so slowly

As if every step was painful

He stopped once at the garbage can down the path from the fountain where I sat

To collect some more bottles for his swelling plastic bag

And one at the bus stop

Just to rest awhile

I watched as he walked on

Slowly curving out of sight

And I was filled with a deep loneliness

Too deep for the even the sun to melt