by Ailish Bracken
- Short, quick paces push her black
boots down the street.
A grey pavement is invisible, her destination is in her eyes.
The city lights shine as she brings a cigarette to her lips
and thinks of what to say tonight. She must keep the boy
interested or he'll find someone else with whom to share coffee.
Another ear, another smile and maybe just the perfect girl.- Closing his notebook, he looks up and sees the awkward girl
with swishing jeans that touch the butts on the street.
He watches her pretend she has not seen him behind his coffee
as she prepares to smile and greets him with her eyes.
he is bemused that she sees no-one but this boy
he sees everyone as she brings the cup to her lips.- The night will flow as long as there are words from their lips.
He talks of life and art as he stirs the sugar into his coffee.
She perches her chin in her hand, and feels a silly little girl
as he teaches her his world but never sees it through her eyes.
She keeps her peace as they step onto the street
searching for something that may enthuse the boy.- Sitting in a bar, she watches him through golden beer. The boy
stares silent and pensive out into the wet, grey street.
The cold alcohol courses through her veins, replacing the coffee
with something better. Now there is everything on her lips
and she shares it hungrily as there is no other girl
with whom to share her beautiful world through her dull eyes.- Lazing comfortably on the couch, his attention is drawn to her eyes
her words are thick and fast, slurring slightly from her lips
her sexual discomfort is a playground for the boy
for his words dance around hers, manipulating the girl
into an ecstatic mind. Now she wishes they had stuck to coffee
as her mind is weary and they fall onto the street.- Watch his arm caress her shoulder, they sing down the street,
and touch noses in a secret affection. But his heart lies not with this girl
but with his mind and his world. He touches the black coffee
curls of her hair. His smile is the possession of a boy
she cannot penetrate. She laughs and covers her eyes
so she does not cry at the kiss that touches her lips.- The girl is deserted, in a dark, familiar city street.
The boy heads for home, intoxicated with beer and coffee.
Their lips are sealed to these nights, where comfort seeks sad eyes.
