He drinks thick chocolate drinks
in tea cups in coffee shops
so the other adults don’t notice.
The frothy brown moustache
gives him away
but we don’t say anything.
He pretends to look at the crossword
and hides a novelty gingerbread head
up the sleeve of his denim jacket.
He has the eyes of a man
who loves a fairground,
the wet nose of a puppy,
the tight chin of hidden concerns.

© Carl Burkitt 2021