His smile came to work with him today
and asks me if semi-skimmed milk is OK.
It is. He’s delighted! He holds up a little jug
and says Moo. It’s physically impossible
not to join in so we Moo; two grown men
pretending we are in a field feeling grass
on our bellies, whipping our tails against flies,
wondering how low clouds can get,
ignoring the motorway taking people
to places they do not want to be.
His boss jokes she can always give him
his Barista in Training badge straight back
and we are human again, ordering tea,
making tea, wishing each other a nice day.

© Carl Burkitt 2023