friends

                                                                                           Bratislava       2013

he waits,
his big hands fumble with the small mobile phone,
they are late,
he smiles.

we worked together 50 years
we meet in this basement every friday afternoon
we drink wine
we argue about politics and history
we boast of our children's achievements
we talk with pride about our grandchildren
we laugh together
we raise a glass for the departed
each year our number decreases
but we are friends
our friendship is a gift