I’m in a café
watching a man watching a man.
The man I’m watching is watching his man
with a look I hope I’m not watching my man with.
My man’s nose is scrunched up
like he’s walked into a bakery that smells like turd.
His eyes are so tightly squished
I’m surprised he can see the man he’s watching.
The man I’m watching has the softest looking skin
but his clenched jaw is stretching it to cracking point.
It’s a shame the man he is watching
is doing whatever he is doing
because I’ve waited all day
to see the man I’m watching smile.

© Carl Burkitt 2020