inside the Emporium Cafe

Clint Eastwood glowered above me -

A distressed radio played a Dusty Springfield song -

Beyond the labyrinth of antiques, a barefoot man wore a beret -

A sign said more downstairs -

Swanage 

May 2026

The artist

I imagine him -

A haunted boy - 

His wild eye - 

Painting his fervid dreams - 

Swanage 

May 2026

There were still blue bells

There were still blue bells -

Birdsong -

The fragrance of may blossom -

New leaf on old trees -

The yellow shimmer of buttercups in a quiet field -

Sand martins dancing above the river -

Sunlight -

The silence of the sky -

Your name somehow there -

.

East Stoke 

May 2026

The barbers

The barbers with their Assyrian beards -

Their dark eyes - 

Their memories of wounds -

Wareham

2026 

Returning to Greeneland

The midnight train leaves the capital -

I've a hairlip -

Counterfeit notes in my pocket -

Cruel stars filling the sky - 

May 2026 

Your photograph

I saw your photograph -

You are becoming smoke -

Soon you will be air -

I remember your kindnesses -

Your laughter -

The music at your wedding -

Salisbury 

May 2026 

Outside the Emporium Cafe

Wearing my sunglasses -

Hiding my eyes -

Trying not to show how much I longed to see you -

Your husband telling me about acid jazz -

Emporium Cafe

Swanage 

May 2026