the couple at the table sat.
eagerly his fingers rapped.
"i've little patience. less than none ."
"i've less," she cried. "a zero sum."
the table set, they yearned to dine.
yet there they sat, 'til half past nine
they waited while the world turned round
and autumn's leaves twice met the ground.
they stayed there calm for months and more
until their guests arrived on shore
old friends' familiarity
now sweetened by their rarity.
