Scott Simpson · Poetry

After All This Time

Relational Landscaping: The Human Terrain of Organizations · source pages 13

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Source page 13

After All This Time

In the breakroom,

he’s stirring sugar into his coffee,

the spoon touching the mug

like a clock tick.

You almost turn away—

you’ve done that for years,

ducking down side halls

when his voice came around a corner.

But something in the morning light,

in the slow patience of it,

asks you to stay.

You nod, say good to see you.

He looks up, surprised,

and smiles.

That’s all.

The coffee smells a little sweeter.

You carry that with you—

the quiet click

of something finally set down.