An old man always hiding aged eyes behind dark glasses

His wife's car borrowed
for the extra income, the
ashtray full, the radio humming
softly spoken verses,
the speedometer never
questioning the approval of the law.

Our conversation: his
step-son and granddaughter,
of her life with them
and the vagaries of the
weather. "Now if only we
were all good Christians! Tell me all
about you guys..."

Me throwing back the questions,
back at him, talking Brahma,
Vishnu, Mahesh, comparing the
holy trinity to an egg,
he cursing his son-in-law
for being in bed with his daughter
and a Jehovah's Witness. "He warn't
no good - never spoke much
to him though."

And before long
the airport crept upon me,
the sanitised walls ready
to absorb me and me resting
in his prayers. Maybe, said he,
I would believe someday.