My Buddy

I am not dating this woman,
I am just seeing her
every now and then.
Mostly at her home
with her children.
I play if they want to play.
I watch, listen, and learn
when they want to talk.
When their night is over
we say our prayers
and they wander off to bed.
I learn so much every night
I am there to share with them.
The woman I am not dating
and I graze and drink wine.
Eventually we move our talk outside.
I listen, I watch, I learn.
Sometimes we kiss.
Mostly we talk and find out things
we might not say inside
under the bright lights of the kitchen.
I find myself drawn more and more
to this woman I am not dating.
Mostly I just want to hold her
and tell her that everything will be fine.
But I talk about my life too
without shame or reservation,
knowing she will not judge me.
The hardest part of the night
is simply leaving.