Sidewalk scenes
a good dog
patiently doing
tricks for treats
a small boy
asks for the hot tub
after dinner
an old man
long beard bristling
goes inside
music drifts
outside from inside,
old show tunes
a couple
together but not
holding hands
window seat
a woman reading
now vacant
a young girl
talking on the phone
while she walks
flannel shirt
tied around the waist
makes a skirt
in a mask
a man with a hat
hurries by
the good dog
gets lots of notice
from women
Inside scenes
two people
sit talking loudly
one dances
on a date
or maybe just friends
at present
computers
rule the table tops,
free wifi
teenager
writing and dreaming
of freedom
espresso
machine makes noises
and coffee
one man sits
by the door alone
and busy
a woman
alone with her phone
and coffee
laughing guys
playing a dice game
fill the room
girls whisper
at the big table
together
a mother
trying her best
to relax
rolling dice
clatter and echo
the guys sing
when he left
he looked back at her
with a smile
window seat
no longer vacant
filled by me,
poetic spy
My daughter loves to go for “writing dates” with me at coffee shops. This tradition has evolved from us sitting together to her wanting to be left alone and me going stir crazy because she always wants to stay much longer than I do. Recently we went for one of these rendezvous in the late afternoon, and halfway through my cold brew I realized there was no way I could sit still for more than about 30 seconds at a time (anybody else struggle with caffeine late in the day???). To calm my over-hyped nerves, I started focusing on my surroundings, and lo – this poem appeared.
Thank you for reading!
The Poetry Patio 