he looks a lot like you
	with his soft brown wavy hair.
	he's thin   and about the same height
	in fact, the first time i saw him
	i thought he was you.
	i walked out of my house and there he was
	raking leaves in my yard  wearing an old grey hat
	just like yours
	a brown bag of his stuff on the trunk of my car.
	i looked at him and said, "oh my god. i don't believe you're back."
	he looked up at me and smiled and said, "oh hi, i'm mike,
	the new gardener."
	i said, "oh...i'm sorry.
	i thought you were someone else, someone i used to know."
	he could tell i was disappointed but he wanted to talk to me.
	he stopped raking and asked me my name, leaned the rake against
	the wall, took his bag off the trunk and followed me around to my door.
	i knew he was a little confused but i couldn't tell him
	that i could really walk out and find you raking leaves
	in my yard, it is something you would do.
	i got in my car.
	he tried to talk to me through the window for a while.
	then i drove off, leaving him standing there, his arms wrapped around
	the brown paper bag.
	i dream about you arriving like that
	half expect to find you sitting in my living room,
	smoking cigarettes  when i get home from work,
	hear your car and wait for you to walk in
	but you never do
	it's just the guy down the street with the car
	that sounds like yours.
	he never stops or parks in front of my house.
	i want it to be you.
	now i see mike all the time  at work  on the street
	in line at the gas station
	in all the strangest places.
	he walks like you
	and stands like you  leaning on one leg
	your hip out to one side  so you can be shorter.
	i watch him because i want to remember you.
	i want to see you.
	he wants to go out with me.
	i try not to talk to him very much  and i won't go out with him
	i'll end up hating him for not being you
	and i couldn't love him for who he is
	he looks too much like you
	i keep making up excuses  and places i have to be.
	pretty soon he'll stop turning up
	talking and asking me out
	and i'll miss him a little
	because i miss you.