He put the coffee
Into the cup
He put the milk
Into the cup of coffee
He put the sugar
Into the café au lait
With the little spoon
He stirred
He drank the coffee
And he replaced the cup
Without speaking to me
He lit
A cigarette
He made rings
With the smoke
He put the ashes
Into the ashtray
Without speaking to me
Without looking to me
He stood up
He put
His hat upon his head
He put
His raincoat on
Because it was raining
And he left
Without one word
And me I placed
My head in my hand
And I cried.

Ralph, my human resources person, was an unmade bed. Craggy faced, he smoked cigars until their very end, scattering ashes everywhere. He was an administrative nightmare, often staying up all night long to finish the books for our presentations at headquarters. But you couldn't find anyone with a better nose for people.