Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Sarah St Vincent Welch #168 shortest day cafe



inside day rains in
it's the shortest day
in a café at the shops
this is old style,
mellow pink
childhood bright

a case of cakes
thick icing swirls
butterfly sponge
froth in a mug
froth in a puddle
in the afternoon pavement
cracked and shattered
sugar cubes in silver bowl

sleek bubbly snail foot
glides the window pane
scratched reflections
etched opening hours

she can’t hear
talks deep and loud
without consonants
she has a felt hat
asks me to write on her napkin
searches the yellow pages
takes my seat
muzak pleases me for the first time
and the crumbs in a scatter pattern
all things please me
another she of long grey hair
leans over my open page
to check the number
we are all so like each other





3 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed this, Sarah, thank you. I feel like I've been in that cafe, in that world you evoke so clearly and with such economy. The rain, the cakes, the interactions. It's wonderful.

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  2. Thanks Lisa. I was there today. I am glad you joined me through the poem. I don't usually stay in a cafe for so long. I felt like I had lived several lives. Maybe the magic of the Solstice? I had forgone a much trendier cafe and was glad I did.

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  3. I loved this Sarah, particularly the poignancy of your last line.

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