the promises he broke were meant for me 
to make right, somehow, any way and where 
the sun shone mist on the dingy glass 
reflecting vows and caffeinated veins 
of marbled countertops and beef 
the people have between them, animus 
that threads through feuds and dynasties -- 
we were that time 
and time again we placed 
new emphasis upon the ways 
we could fight back and change the path of fate 
that wound like smoke around 
our mutual futility