we talked of pithy things under the emerald awning,
chain smoking and smoothing our sleeves when women would pass;
we adorned the building gracefully, asking questions of each other.
we, two men, dapperly attired in fitted polyester suits and matching caps,
standing on a once-crimson carpet, negotiated change
while our white gloves opened and closed, and opened and closed.
we discussed the parmenides, growing silent when they would pass us,
smiling and nodding and shaking hands, and opening and closing.
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