Big Peter - August 20, 2024

the six foot five  two hundred

and forty pound member of our group

with a skyscraping intellect to match

wearing an ever-present top hat

like gentleman used to wear  

pencil mustache  muscular voice

he told us in chopped breath

how money was stolen from him

and after 3 days no resolution

when he was done I muttered

Peter needs a hug

and he said

well that will never happen

because no one ever hugs me

after the meeting I looked up

at him and held out my arms

the stale smell of cigarette

smoke mingled

in the silent embrace

and how much smaller

he seemed to get

the longer we held