Diane Webster
Companions
The old man perches on a bench;
sunshine flings his shadow
against the wall; it sticks.
As long as the sun has his back,
the old man feels warm
in companionship.
They converse about the weather
in reverse gestures mirrored
ever closer until noon
when they wrestle for attention
on top and beneath each other
until the shadow faces
the bench and the old man
silent and sad;
his friend leaves him alone.