I like walking into cafés and wiping my feet
on welcome mats with the café’s name printed
on them and drinking from cups
with the café’s name printed on them
and wiping chocolate biscuit crumbs
from my beard with napkins
with the café’s name printed on them
and sitting on chairs with the café’s name
printed on them and thanking people
with the café’s name printed on them
because it feels like love and eating
a stick of rock with the face you feel safe
with stained through the middle.

© Carl Burkitt 2022