He would have liked those gloves.
He might have worn them out
to the park
on the days before the snows set in.
He would have thought wistfully
about the days of the snows
in the old lands
from whence he came.
He would have talked about those lands
without anyone really listening.

He then might have asked after my day
and listened
– really –
when I told him about skating past the boss
leaving forty minutes early.
He would have laughed at the story
and groaned at my puns.

He would have offered me soup
then made me make it.
He would have invited me to play rummy
and revised the rules
to fit his cards.
He would have thanked me for the visit
and sent me on my way.

He might even have seen me to the door
quietly waving
wearing his new gloves.