The lady asked for a large cappuccino.
The barista asked Wet or dry?
The lady said Dry
and everything I knew about milk
and water and cream poured from my ears.
As dry as possible, she said.
I found comfort in the image of an old couple
sat at a table, peacefully reading
separate copies of the same newspaper.
As I floated by to find the toilet
I saw they were silently doing the same crossword
in separate copies of the same newspaper.
As dry as possible.
Words stopped making sense.

© Carl Burkitt 2020