By: Carl Papa Palmer

He wears the blue blazer every day
for breakfast, lunch and dinner
since the lovely lady in room 18
invited him to her table during tea
saying how dapper he would look
in a sport jacket matching his eyes.

Her eyes remind him of Emma’s eyes,
the lightest of brown like malted milk
color coordinated with ebony hair
matching her skin.

He never removes it, wears it every
day, every meal, wants her to notice
as he enters the Serenity Home
dining room, hoping today,
after so long, she will be there,
invite him to her table,
admire his new, blue jacket,
now almost nine years old.