jln.

The man beyond the window
the man smoking
and puffing
with a felt hat slightly
tilted hiding his eyebrow
and casting a shadow
making his face
half dark, half light
half dead, half alive

and he stares at me
cutting through the glass
looking right at me
as he exhales gaseous nicotine
into the fall season's night air

and he's just looking
and looking
and waiting

for my move

but I can't --
his stare, froze me to the core.

©jln.