It was not that she was my girlfriend, she worked in a bar
and men were a part of her life and economic resources, but
For the duration she was my friend. You liked her too, but
the unspoken law was to keep away from your mate’s woman.
I was on duty and saw you sneak ashore at midnight.
Next day you avoided me. Nothing was said, we are all free
to follow our own moral norm, but we never met for drinks
anymore, whether in Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires.
A winter day in Amsterdam, and it was noon, I saw you walk
down the gangway, suitcase in hand, you didn’t turn to wave.
