Rust in His Step

He called her "Partner," when she'd take
His eager hand
As he creaked, she knows the steps
For younger souls and graceful legs

At his table he watched them moving
Through his glass
His old eyes on her as she smiles
And moves against the younger man

And as the unfamiliar arrives
He stays behind to string up the lights
Jokes made aloud on the [?]
Not the long haul, his helpless [?]

He calls hеr "Partner," to himself
With wasted words
[?]swaggеr muscles by
He opens out into the dark

Keeps to the still of his garden
Busy with the dirt in his hands
In with the wind cries of laughter just to make
Older trees bend beneath its weight

And as the unfamiliar arrives
To help him with his slow goodbyes
She's widowed in ways, even though he's still around
Walking long hauls with helpless [?]