An empty handshake
Held too long
Fills the void
Of twenty years indifference.
Memories squeezed dry by time
Flicker briefly in stilted conversation
As we measure ourselves
Against our past.
We know the secret code
The subtle clues that
Mark out our achievements
And hide our disappointments.
Neither of us listens to the other
Too busy keeping score
Until the winner strikes
The winning blow.
